TRANSPORT, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND THE REGIONS

Local Authority Boundaries

George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what representations he has received proposing local authority boundary changes in Merseyside; and if he will make a statement.

Alan Whitehead: We are not aware of any such representations. Boundaries in Merseyside were last looked at in 1997 when the Local Government Boundary Commission for England was directed to carry out a review of Sefton. No changes to boundaries were recommended at that time. Under the current programme of periodic electoral reviews being carried out by the Local Government Commission, a change to local authority boundaries cannot be considered.

Harbourside, Tewkesbury

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what factors underlay his Department's inspector's recent decision to allow an appeal to build eight houses at Harbourside, Tewkesbury.

Sally Keeble: holding answer 3 July 2001
	The decision to grant planning permission was made by a Planning Inspector. I have therefore asked the Planning Inspectorate's Chief Executive, Mr. Chris Shepley, to write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from Chris Shepley to Mr. Laurence Robertson, dated 10 July 2001
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your Question about the planning appeal decision to allow housing on land at Bredon Road, Tewkesbury (the "Harbourside" site).
	The Inspector issued her decision on 17 May and I am enclosing a copy of her decision that explains her reasons for allowing the development. As you will see, Tewkesbury Borough Council did not object to the principle of housing on the site and the Environment Agency confirmed that the development did not prejudice its Floodplain Management Policies. The Inspector's main issue was the effect of the dwellings on the existing development around the marina site.
	It is clear from paragraphs 7–13 of the decision, that there are already two existing residential developments, along the south-western and south-eastern sides of the marina basin. The Inspector had to consider whether the proposed development, to be sited alongside the north-eastern boundary, would fit in with the existing housing and environment. The Inspector found that, in her view, the proposals would enhance the existing sense of enclosure, and produce a lively and balanced composition around the marina, integrating satisfactorily into the existing housing and the surrounding area. She concludes, in paragraph 13, that the proposal would not conflict with the Council's development plan, and subsequently granted permission, subject to a number of conditions designed to protect the sensitivity of the site and to ensure the scheme complies with the development plan.

North Circular Road

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he expects the North Circular Road improvement programme to be completed; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: The North Circular Road is now the responsibility of the Mayor and Transport for London.

Fuel Duty Rebate System

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the impact of the rules which apply to bus and coach operators over the payment of fuel duty and the eligibility for the fuel duty rebate system.

Sally Keeble: Under the current rules, fuel duty rebate may be claimed for bus services which are registered with the Traffic Commissioner as a local bus service and which are available to the general public.
	We shall be extending eligibility to claim rebate to the operators of a wide range of community transport services during this financial year.
	We shall be replying shortly to a recent recommendation from the Commission for Integrated Transport that the rebate should also be available for the operators of long-distance scheduled coach services in return for the provision of half-fare concessionary fares for elderly and disabled passengers.

Housing

Iain Coleman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans his Department has to introduce new target rents for newly built or procured properties on first lettings; and if he will make a statement.

Sally Keeble: My Department's "Guide to Social Rent Reforms" which was issued last December stated that:
	"Newly-provided housing funded through Social Housing Grant, and approved for funding from 2002–03 onwards, will normally have rents set immediately at the target levels given by the restructuring formula."
	This remains the Government's policy. The Housing Corporation is currently reviewing the framework for calculating grant rates for newly provided social housing so that it properly reflects the new structure of rents at which properties will be let.

Departmental Staff Secondments

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many staff from his Department and its predecessor were seconded to private sector companies in (a) May 1999 to April 2000 and (b) May 2000 to the latest date for which figures are available; and if he will list in each case the companies to which staff were sent, the names and ranks of the staff involved and the duration of the secondment.

Alan Whitehead: (a) 1 May 1999 to April 2000: none; (b) 1 May 2000 to 31 May 2001:
	
		
			  Staff Rank  Duration 
		
		
			 1 X Pay Band 6(G7) To Capita RAS February 2001 to November 2001 
			 1 X Pay Band 6 (G7) To Shell International August 2000 to October 2002 
			 1 X Pay Band 4 (HEO) To Arthur Andersen January 2001 to January 2002 
			 1 X Pay Band 4 (HEO) To Carillion Ltd. March 2001 to June 2001 
			 1 X SCS (Grade 5) To Carbon Trust April 2001 to October 2001 
			 2 X Pay Band 6(G 7) To Carbon Trust April 2001 to October 2001 
			 1 X Pay Band 5 (SEO) To Carbon Trust April 2001 to July 2001 
			 1 X Pay Band 2 (AO) To Carbon Trust May 2001 to November 2001

Informal Public Spaces

George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 4 July 2001, Official Report, columns 158–59W, what his definition is of "surplus to requirements" in the context of building on open space; and if he will make a statement.

Sally Keeble: The consultation draft of PPG17 (paragraph 15) lists the range of valuable functions that open space can perform within urban areas. If individual areas of open space no longer fulfil any of these functions, then they may be "surplus to requirements" and local authorities may consider whether they should be made available for development. Development may also be allowed on areas of open space where an exchange of land takes place to compensate for the lost open space. In particular, this may be appropriate where it will allow the release of a site for development needed to meet other economic and social objectives identified locally.
	We are currently considering the responses made to the consultation draft of PPG17. We hope to publish the final version by the end of this year.

Speed Limit (Schools)

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he plans to introduce a statutory 20 mph speed limit outside schools.

David Jamieson: holding answer 9 July 2001
	The Government have given local authorities the power to introduce 20 mph zones. Our Road Safety Strategy encourages their use in the areas where the most vulnerable are present, like the areas around schools. Where 20 mph zones would not be appropriate, local authorities are encouraged to look for alternative measures to ensure child safety.

Passenger Capacity (Commercial Airlines)

John Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to introduce legislation to regulate the passenger seating capacity of commercial airlines.

David Jamieson: The Civil Aviation Authority has had mandatory minimum standards for seat spacing on UK registered aircraft since 1989. These are contained in Airworthiness Notice No. 64 and were introduced to ensure the safe evacuation of an aircraft during an emergency. There is also a limit on the number of seats in each row, which determines the minimum width of the seats.
	In its response to the House of Lords Select Committee Inquiry into Air Travel and Health, the Government referred to some research which is being funded by the Civil Aviation Authority to look into the relationship between aircraft seat dimension and passenger size. This study, which is being carried out on behalf of the Joint Aviation Authorities, looks at the changing size of air passengers, but also includes a review of recent research into deep vein thrombosis, and indicates additional areas where further research may be necessary. The study (and any subsequent follow-on study) will provide the Government with the information necessary to review the current regulations on seat spacing. It is due to be presented to the Joint Aviation Authorities shortly.

Departmental Title Change Costs

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what his estimate is of the total cost of (a) design, (b) stationery, (c) new name plaques and (d) other costs of the naming of his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Alan Whitehead: My Department's costs have been very low as it makes extensive use of electronic templates, keeps low stocks of stationery and generally uses out-of-date stationery for purposes such as internal photocopying and notepads.
	Recent changes in departmental responsibilities aim to improve efficiency in delivering Government policy. The costs of the name change to my central Department so far amount to £25,250, and are broken down in the table.
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 (a) Design 264.37 
			 (b) Stationery 8,782.31 
			 (c) Name plaques 6,235 
			 (d) Other costs:  
			 Templates and display panels 2,984.50 
			 Changes to the website (c.50,000 pages) 4,398 
			 Costs incurred by our storage and distribution company 2,585 
		
	
	Note:
	These figures include VAT.

Landlord and Tenants Act

Gisela Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many applications to challenge landlords' choice of insurers under paragraph 8 of the schedule to the Landlord and Tenants Act 1985 have been received by leasehold valuation tribunals.

Sally Keeble: The leasehold valuation tribunals were first given jurisdiction for nominated insurer cases in September 1997. Since that time, there have been approximately 60 applications made under paragraph 8 of the schedule to the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985.

Travel Concessions (Solent Ferries)

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if pensioners will be able to use the long distance travel concessions announced on 4 July on cross-Solent ferries.

Sally Keeble: A local authority must offer at least the statutory minimum concessionary travel requirement (half-fares for elderly and disabled people, with no charge for the pass) on local buses within its boundaries. Each authority may also offer concessionary travel beyond its area and by other means of transport—for example train and ferry services—if it considers it right to do so, using its discretionary powers in the Transport Act 1985.

Disability Discrimination Act

Shaun Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to extend the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 to place a duty on transport operators to allow disabled people to use all their vehicles.

Sally Keeble: The Government have already taken significant steps towards delivering accessible transport under the DDA. Regulations setting standards of access for trains, buses and coaches are already in force. Taxi drivers are also now under a duty to carry guide, hearing and other assistance dogs and we will be consulting in due course on access standards for licensed taxis.
	My officials are involved in constructive discussions with both the transport industries and disability organisations regarding the further extension of the Disability Discrimination Act to transport operators, and the other recommendations relating to transport made by the Disability Rights Task Force in its report "From Exclusion to Inclusion."
	Our aim is to find ways in which we can take forward the recommendations to deliver further improvements in access and mobility to disabled people without compromising the viability of industry. I hope to be in a position to publish a consultation paper on the options by the turn of the year.

Assistance Animals

Diana Organ: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions 
	(1)  if he will list the airports which have facilities to process assistance animals travelling on passports for pets with their owners;
	(2)  if he will list the airline carriers which will allow assistance animals to travel on board with their owners under the passport for pets scheme.

Elliot Morley: I have been asked to reply.
	Whether an airport has the facilities to process animals under the pet travel scheme is determined by the airline which seeks this Department's approval. It is the carrier that is approved, not the airport. An airline wishing to participate nominates a route, including the airport for which it can demonstrate its ability to comply with the requirements of the scheme. This forms the basis of its operational contract and foundation for the Department's approval. It is essential in order to ensure that every animal entering the country under the scheme is properly checked for compliance.
	Within the limits of their agreements with this Department, it is a matter for each airline to decide how it transports pets into the UK, in light of its own operational and safety requirements. Some airlines have been able to demonstrate procedures to transport assistance animals in the cabins of their aircraft while meeting all the scheme's requirements. They are British Midland Airways, from Amsterdam, Stuttgart and Paris into London Heathrow airport, Lufthansa from Frankfurt into London Heathrow airport and British European operating an Air France flight from Toulouse into London Heathrow airport.
	As additional transport companies and new routes are agreed by the Department, details (including whether they are able to carry assistance animals in the cabin of their aircraft) will be placed on the DEFRA website and made available through the PETS helpline.

Departmental Responsibilities

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the recent division of regional responsibilities between different Government Departments.

Tony Blair: I am replying to this question as it relates to ministerial responsibilities.
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 9 July 2001, Official Report, column 408W.

HEALTH

Residential and Nursing Care

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many residential care and nursing (a) homes and (b) places he estimates there will be in (i) 2002, (ii) 2003 and (iii) 2004.

Jacqui Smith: No estimates have been made centrally of the number of residential or nursing care homes in 2002, 2003 and 2004, nor of the places within those homes. On behalf of the Department, the Personal Social Services Research Unit (PSSRU) has made longer term projections of future levels of demand for long-term residential and non-residential care services for older people on a range of assumptions. The PSSRU projected that, keeping pace with demographic pressures, the number of older people in residential and nursing care homes will respectively rise by 12 per cent. and 13 per cent. over the period 1996 to 2010. This is equivalent, for both types of care, to almost 1 per cent. a year.

Mental Health Care

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how the cumulative additional investment on mental health care over three years from 1999 has been allocated (a) for each year, (b) between health and social services and (c) between different Government initiatives and programmes;
	(2)  when he will make allocations to health authorities under the mental health framework for 2001–02; and what is the total amount to be allocated.

Jacqui Smith: The additional central investment on mental health care over the three years from 1999 is shown in the table, (a) for each year and (b) between health and social services (in £ millions).
	It is not possible to give accurate information on the split between different Government initiatives and programmes because the funding was allocated with health authority baselines to tackle local needs.
	The total additional amount to be allocated in 2001–02 is £12.35 million revenue and £58 million capital. The allocation process has already begun and should be completed by the autumn. Most of this additional funding in 2001–02 will be used to provide significant improvements to high secure services.
	
		Mental health investment: national service framework/NHS Plan implementation
		
			£ million  
			 Revenue investment NHS CAMHS (child) NHS adults PSS (personal social services) 
		
		
			 1999–2000 10.0 58.5 (1)46.0 
			 2000–01 10.0 56.0 13.0 
			 2001–02 (2)— 12.35 (3),(4)20.0 
			 Committed so far 20 126.85 77.0 
		
	
	
		Capital investment
		
			  £ million 
		
		
			 1999–2000 4.5 
			 2000–01 9.0 
			 2001–02 (5)58.0 
		
	
	(1) Eight for CAMHS
	(2) The planned £10 million increase to the central funding for CAMHS was issued as part of the growth health authorities received in 2001–02—it was not separately identified. Targets are however being monitored. The £20 million central funding for 1999–2000 and 2000–01 has been added recurrently to HAs' baselines
	(3) Of the £20 million, £1 million went to the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions for the homeless mentally ill initiative and a further £1 million is to be used for central initiatives
	(4) Five for CAMHS
	(5) Includes £5 million for acute psychiatric ward refurbishment, and £9 million for Fallon

Mental Health Care

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list, by name of report and health authority, the independent inquiries into mental health services established under HSG (94) 27 which have been published since February 1994.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 4 July 2001
	The information requested has been placed in the Library.

Mental Health Care

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list by name of subject and health authority the independent inquiries into mental health services established under HSG (94) 27 which are currently under way but which have not yet published reports.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 4 July 2001
	The information requested is as follows.
	Independent inquiries in mental health services established under HSG (94) 27, which are currently under way, but which have not yet published reports
	South West Region
	SC—Dorset HA
	DM—Dorset HA
	JD—Gloucestershire HA
	JC—Somerset HA
	RG—Wiltshire HA
	RG—Wiltshire HA
	MM—Avon HA
	Trent Region
	KH—Leicestershire HA
	BR—Leicestershire HA
	AA—North Derbyshire HA
	MS—Lincolnshire HA.
	North West Region
	AK—Blackpool HA
	PL—Blackpool HA
	RH—East Lancashire HA
	AP—Liverpool HA
	MA—HA
	SR—HA
	West Midland Region
	No independent inquiries currently under way.
	London Region
	AB—Brent and Harrow HA
	PL—Brent and Harrow HA
	AC—Brent and Harrow HA
	XX—Brent and Harrow HA
	WT—Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow HA
	PR—Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow HA
	MH—East London and City HA
	DN—East London and City HA
	SH—East London and City HA
	WH—Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham HA
	MM—Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth HA
	South East Region
	MS—West Kent
	RS—West Surrey
	SL—West Sussex
	WW—Berkshire
	CM—North and Mid. Hampshire
	PH—North and Mid. Hampshire
	NL—North and Mid. Hampshire
	Eastern Region
	DB—Norfolk HA
	KB—Norfolk HA
	JN—North Essex HA
	North Yorkshire Region
	DM—Newcastle and North Tyneside HA
	DG—Calderdale and Kirklees HA
	RW- Newcastle and North Tyneside HA
	AJK—Bradford HA
	ME—Tees HA
	GE—Leeds HA
	AM—Leeds HA
	SK—Calderdale and Kirklees HA
	Note:
	The names of the patients have been replaced by initials, as many patient names may not be in the public domain.

London NHS Housing Co-ordinator

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will set out the principal duties of the London NHS housing co-ordinator; and what targets have been set and what resources have been allocated to the post holder.

John Hutton: The National Health Service housing co-ordinator was appointed by the NHS Estates Agency on 1 April 2000, and is now one year into a three-year programme. He is supported by three full-time staff and has access to professional and other support staff at the London regional office, and within the NHS Estates Agency. The principal duties, and targets, have changed during this period, and now include: to improve the quality and quantity of affordable homes for NHS staff in support of the NHS's recruitment and retention requirements; to deliver the NHS Plan's target to secure 2,000 additional residential units in London; to estimate the need outside London, securing additional residential units as required, starting in the south east; establish a London wide NHS accommodation bureau; pilot a scheme to provide affordable hotel type rooms in London; consider ways of providing affordable home ownership for NHS staff; and issue guidance, advice, and best practice exemplars for providing staff accommodation. Following the initial success of the programme, the team are now rolling out the initiative to cover areas in the rest of England where high property prices impact on staff recruitment and retention.
	The post holder has delivered, or is on target to deliver, these objectives. Initial milestones for the project involve securing new accommodation at Lever Street, EC1, which in addition provides 26 hotel-type rooms, Pentland House, SE13, and most recently in Kilburn at Acorn Estates. The NHS accommodation bureau has been established with access to more than 12,000 residential units in London.

Overseas Nurses

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Woodspring, (Dr. Fox) of 25 June 2001, Official Report, column 26W, on overseas nurses, what the nature of these representations were; to what countries his Department intends to extend the initiative offered to Spain; what countries have turned down the opportunity to enter into a similar agreement; what reasons they gave for turning down such an opportunity; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: The countries outlined in response to the hon. Member for Woodspring (Dr. Fox) on 25 June have made written or verbal representations to the Department about the availability of health care professionals from their country to work in the National Health Service.
	The Department will work with these and other countries making a similar approach to agree the most appropriate means to support international co-operation in the recruitment, secondment, exchange or development of health care professionals with the NHS, which is of mutual benefit.
	To date, no country has declined to work with us and no country has yet agreed a similar arrangement to the one we have with Spain.

Walk-in Centres

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many expressions of interest his Department has received about introducing NHS walk-in centres.

John Hutton: We received 100 applications following the issue of Health Service Circular 1999–116 in May 1999.
	39 of the 40 National Health Service walk-in centres that were approved in 1999 are open. A further three National Health Service walk-in centres were approved in 2000. By the end of 2001 all 43 will be open.

Ashworth Special Hospital

George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his estimate is of the costs of providing additional security measures at Ashworth special hospital which arose out of the Fallon inquiry and the Tilt report.

Jacqui Smith: £4.5 million capital was invested in 1999–2000 to improve security and safety at Ashworth hospital in response to the findings of the Fallon inquiry report. A review was also undertaken at that time of the likely need for future investment on security and modernisation. As a result, an additional £3 million capital per year was allocated for this purpose to the Department's north-west regional office. £16 million of capital funding is being made available to Ashworth hospital authority, over the period 2000 to 2004, to meet the additional security measures recommended for the hospital in the Tilt report.

Ashworth Special Hospital

George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much it cost to erect a new security fence at Ashworth special hospital; and if he will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: The report of the review of security at the high security hospitals (the Tilt report), published in May 2000, recommended that the perimeter security of the three high security psychiatric hospitals, Ashworth, Broadmoor and Rampton, should be upgraded. The recommendation was accepted by the Government. Current estimates are that the planned additional external perimeter barrier at Ashworth hospital will cost £1.7 million capital. Schemes linked to the external perimeter barrier, including external and internal perimeter roads, will cost a further £1.5 million capital, making a total cost of £3.2 million.

Ashworth Special Hospital

George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what resources have been allocated for additional security measures at Ashworth special hospital arising out of the Tilt report; and if he will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: £16 million of capital funding is being made available to Ashworth hospital authority, over the period 2000–04, to meet the additional security measures recommended for the hospital in the Tilt report.

MRSA

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many lives were lost in NHS hospitals as a result of MRSA in each of the last 12 years.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 9 July 2001
	There are no centrally held statistics on deaths caused by hospital acquired infections, including Methicillin resistant "Staphylococcus aureus" (MRSA).
	MRSA infection can take the form of many different diseases from trivial skin infection to pneumonia or septicaemia. It is difficult to tell what contribution MRSA infection makes to death. MRSA does not have a distinct code within the revision of the international classification of diseases used for coding diagnostic data in the National Health Service and death registration data at the Office for National Statistics.

Hospital Trusts

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health in what circumstances hospitals with individual trusts but combined clinical services may apply for teaching services.

John Hutton: holding answer 9 July 2001
	The arrangements for establishing training placements for National Health Service staff will vary according to the staff group involved and the stage of training they have reached. The most important aspects local education providers will consider are the quality of training on offer and the range and depth of experience required from the placement.

Clinical Negligence

Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to introduce proposals to reform the clinical negligence system.

Alan Milburn: I have announced today my intention to publish a White Paper early in 2002 on reforming the way clinical negligence claims are handled.

Head Injuries

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will respond to the Health Committee's report, "Head Injury: Rehabilitation" (HC307 Session 2000–2001).

John Hutton: We expect to publish our response to the report before Parliament rises on 20 July.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Millennium Dome

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what is the cost, per month, for each of the last six months, of the Millennium Dome to (a) the Millennium Commission, (b) Government Departments and (c) private funds.

Kim Howells: holding answer 25 June 2001
	The New Millennium Experience company (NMEC) has advised that the monthly cost of the Dome and the site on which it stands for the last six months is as follows:
	
		
			  £000 
		
		
			 January 2001 2,615 
			 February 2001 1,635 
			 March 2001 1,459 
			 April 2001 719 
			 May 2001 687 
			 June 2001 (6)486 
		
	
	(6) Budgeted costs
	Note:
	Final figures for June are not yet available
	In addition to care and maintenance, costs for the first part of this year include expenditure incurred on Dome decommissioning.
	Government Departments are not involved directly in financing the Dome. Ministers have received support from officials over the last six months in respect of the Dome sale process and any other Dome-related matters in the normal course of business; but the cost of this is not separable from the cost of support to Ministers on other matters.
	I am not aware of any cost of the Millennium Dome to private funds over the last six months other than costs incurred by potential bidders. These are a matter for them.

Millennium Bridge

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the opening date of the Millennium Bridge.

Tessa Jowell: holding answer 25 June 2001
	This is a matter for the Millennium Commission. I will write to the hon. Member in my capacity as Chairman of the Commission, and place copies of my reply in the Libraries of both Houses.

Foot and Mouth

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on compensation for self-employed tour guides affected by foot and mouth restrictions.

Kim Howells: It is the long-standing policy of successive Governments not to offer compensation for consequential losses associated with animal disease outbreaks. However, despite the restrictions needed to control foot and mouth, more and more of the countryside is open for business and there is still plenty to do and see. Visitor attractions are continuing to open and rights of way throughout England are now 68 per cent. open. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs wrote to local authority chief executives on 22 June proposing revocation of blanket closures of public rights of way. I am confident that these measures will benefit self-employed tour guides.

Foot and Mouth

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she last met representatives of the British Hospitality Association to discuss the impact of foot and mouth on tourism.

Tessa Jowell: holding answer 25 June 2001
	Representatives of the BHA were present when I addressed the CBI's tourism Conference, "Tourism UK—Restoration or Regeneration", on June 26, as well as the Tourism Foot and Mouth Summit which I chaired on 3 July.
	On both occasions I stressed the importance I attach to my Department's sponsorship of the tourism industry, and I look forward to meeting the BHA on many occasions in the future.
	My hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State is arranging a series of meetings, which will include discussions with the representatives of the British Hospitality Association.

Foot and Mouth

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the impact of the foot and mouth crisis on the hotel and tourism industry on the Isle of Wight.

Kim Howells: holding answer 9 July 2001
	Our best estimate to date is that the loss of revenue in 2001–02 by the English tourist industry is likely to be around £120 million per week averaged over the eight month tourism season. We have not attempted to apportion this overall estimate to individual Regional Tourist Boards or individual tourism destinations, such as the Isle of Wight, since the available data do not enable this to be done with a sufficient degree of reliability. We are currently revising the model on which this estimate is based in the light of the latest available data.

Public Libraries

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on standards of service in public libraries.

Tessa Jowell: holding answer 25 June 2001
	The Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964 makes it a duty of library authorities to
	provide a comprehensive and efficient library service.
	We introduced standards of service for library authorities from 1 April 2001 to help them and users understand what is required under the Act. Since 1998, we have also encouraged better planning and accountability in public library services through the introduction of annual library plans and these will now act as the vehicle for monitoring and assessing library authorities' performance against the standards.

Film Council

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many representatives of the Film Council attended the latest Cannes Film Festival; at what costs to public funds; and how many new British films were screened at the festival.

Tessa Jowell: holding answer 25 June 2001
	28 Film Council and British Film Commission (BFC) staff attended the Cannes "Marché"—the commercial film market—which runs parallel with the main Film Festival, at a cost of £66,500. 100 British films were shown or promoted at the Marché.
	The BFC ran a series of seminars and workshops for international/European producers and other industry professionals explaining film finance opportunities in the UK; the range of the production section in the UK; and financial and fiscal mechanisms that can benefit films that shoot in the UK. In addition the BFC organised three showcases exploring different areas of production expertise and co-hosted a reception with the British Screen Advisory Council for European producers.

Diary Appointments (Cancellations)

Eric Forth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many diary appointments for the Secretary of State were cancelled on her taking office.

Tessa Jowell: I have not cancelled any of my diary engagements since becoming Secretary of State. Invitations accepted by my predecessor, my right hon. Friend the Member for Islington, South and Finsbury (Mr. Smith) for engagements after June 8 were accepted on the understanding that they would need to be reconsidered should a new Secretary of State be appointed.

Digital Terrestrial Television

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the future of digital terrestrial television.

Tessa Jowell: The Government have set out in their White Paper—A New Future for Communications—their proposals for the sector, including working with industry and viewer groups to develop a clear and effective strategy for achieving the switchover to digital broadcasting.

S4C

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the subsidy to S4C was (a) in total and (b) per viewer in the last year.

Kim Howells: The level of S4C's grant in aid is determined by a formula introduced by the Broadcasting Act 1996. For the calendar year 2000, S4C's grant in aid was £78.218 million. The BBC also produce 10 hours per week of Welsh language programmes for broadcasting on S4C, costed at £16 million for the financial year 2000–01. This represents a cost of approximately £65 per viewer, based on S4C's estimated weekly reach of 1.441 million viewers for the year. In addition, outside peak hours S4C broadcasts the best of Channel 4's English language output.

Religious Broadcasting

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will undertake a review into the quality and content of religious broadcasting on (a) terrestrial and (b) satellite television.

Kim Howells: holding answer 3 July 2001
	No. Requirements with regard to religious broadcasting are set out in the BBC's Agreement with the Secretary of State, and in the case of other broadcasters, in their licences. It is the responsibility of the BBC Governors and the Independent Television Commission to ensure that those requirements are met.

TV Licences

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make it her policy to provide free television licences to all old age pensioners.

Kim Howells: The Government have introduced free television licences for people aged 75 or over, because older pensioners are more likely to be reliant on television as their window on the world. Older pensioners are also more likely to be on low incomes. We have no plans to extend free television licences to pensioners below the age of 75.

TV Licences

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the timetable is for the introduction of new proposals on concessionary television licences; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: We hope to set a timetable shortly for the introduction of measures to preserve the rights of beneficiaries of the Accommodation for Residential Care concessionary television licence scheme who remain in accommodation provided or managed by a local authority, a housing association or a development corporation, when the social mix or the level of warden cover change. We are currently consulting with the BBC on the implementation of the proposals to ensure that they will work smoothly. Regulations will then be introduced.

School Sport Co-ordinators

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to her answer of 2 July 2001, Official Report, columns 73–77W, what measures she has taken to monitor the effectiveness of the school sport co-ordinator programme.

Tessa Jowell: holding answer 9 July 2001
	In addition to Sport England's standard monitoring of Lottery projects, the Government's Plan for Sport commits DCMS and DfES to commissioning an impact study to look at the effectiveness of the school sport co-ordinator programme in raising school standards, raising sporting standards and increasing participation for all young people, with an emphasis on under-represented groups. We are in discussion with Sport England, the New Opportunities Fund and the Youth Sport Trust about the nature of that impact study, which we expect to have under way in September.

World Athletics Championships

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what recent discussions she has had with the International Amateur Athletic Federation regarding London's ability to host the 2005 World Athletics Championships;
	(2)  what discussions she has had with the International Amateur Athletic Federation regarding the ability of London to host the 2005 World Athletics Championships; and if she will make a statement.

Tessa Jowell: holding answer 9 July 2001
	I spoke on the telephone to Istvan Gyulai, General Secretary of the IAAF, on 2 July to reiterate the Government's support for the World Athletics Championships being staged in London in 2005.

Tennis

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to expand indoor tennis coaching facilities throughout the country.

Richard Caborn: holding answer 9 July 2001
	Sport England are currently working with the Lawn Tennis Association to develop a facilities planning model to quantify the need for additional indoor tennis facilities and to identify the areas of greatest deficiency. This will be used to inform a new strategy to expand the provision of indoor facilities building on previous investments made by the Lawn Tennis Association, Sport England and the All England Club.

Space for Sport and Art Programme

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what public funds are allocated for the Space for Sport and Art Programme; how much has been spent on this programme to date; and on which projects.

Tessa Jowell: £130 million has been allocated to the Space for Sport and Art Programme—£75 million from the Capital Modernisation Fund and £55 million from three lottery distributors, the New Opportunities Fund, Sport England and the Arts Council of England. As announced in March 2001, around 300 schools have been invited to develop detailed applications, which are due by the end of October. To date some £150,000 has been spent on: producing technical guidance; assessing initial bids; running regional workshops; and developing training packages for the 65 local education authorities involved in the programme.

Sports Facilities (Audit)

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if her Department has completed the audit of UK sports facilities; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: Local authorities are best placed to assess the level of provision in their area as part of their development plans. Therefore, the Government's Plan for Sport encourages local authorities in England to carry out research of Sport England, and recommends that each local authority should develop a strategy for community sports provision over the next five years which, through consultation with the relevant agencies, ensures that new and enhanced indoor and outdoor facilities provide equal opportunity for participation.
	Local planning authorities will be encouraged by Sport England, through its regional offices, to consider both public and commercial provision when drawing up development plan policies for sport and recreation and also the role of planning obligations in providing and maintaining more socially inclusive community sports facilities.
	A new consultative body—the Community Sport Alliance—will encourage good practice in the development of community facilities and also identify best practice in ensuring the inclusion of community and social provision in alternative facility management models.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Commonwealth Development Corporation

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions she has had with representatives from the Commonwealth Development Corporation regarding the adoption of OECD guidelines for multinational companies; and if she will make a statement.

Clare Short: When CDC was transformed from a statutory corporation into a public limited company on 8 December 1999 a set of Business Principles was put in place concerning the areas of business integrity, the environment, social issues and health and safety. These confirmed CDC's commitment to best business practice. They were placed in the Library of the House during the passage of the Commonwealth Development Corporation Act 1999.

Commonwealth Development Corporation

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the least developed countries that have been targeted for investment by the CDC in each of the last three years; and if she will make a statement.

Clare Short: In the last three years CDC has invested funds in the following countries classified as Least Developed Countries (LDCs).
	1998
	Laos
	Lesotho
	Malawi
	Mozambique
	Sierra Leone
	Solomon Islands
	Tanzania
	Uganda
	Vanuatu
	Zambia
	1999
	Bangladesh
	Lesotho
	Malawi
	Mozambique
	Tanzania
	Uganda
	Vanuatu
	Zambia
	2000
	Bangladesh
	Laos
	Lesotho
	Malawi
	Mozambique
	Tanzania
	Uganda
	Vanuatu
	Zambia.
	Under its operating framework CDC is required to make 70 per cent. of new investments (by aggregate value), measured over a rolling five year period, in poorer countries 1 listed in its Investment Policy.
	1 Defined as countries with a GNP per capita below the weighted mean for lower middle income countries, based on World bank data published in 1998.

Montserrat

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress has been made in providing sporting facilities in Montserrat.

Clare Short: We have provisionally allocated a maximum of £72 million for Montserrat over the next five years, subject to our normal processes of resource allocation and review, in order to continue our work to restore the economic and social fabric of the island. This will bring our total assistance to Montserrat to some £207 million since the onset of the crisis. We have an on-going dialogue with the Government of Montserrat about their priorities for the use of these funds. This includes help for recreational facilities.

PRIME MINISTER

Cabinet Committees

Jon Owen Jones: To ask the Prime Minister what is the membership of each Cabinet Committee.

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Prime Minister 
	(1)  what role he plans for the Joint Cabinet Consultative Committee; and if he has discussed this with the Leader of the Liberal Democrats;
	(2)  if he will list the policy areas on which he plans to (a) co-operate and (b) enter into dialogue with the leader of the Liberal Democrats; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: I have placed a copy of the current list of Cabinet Committees, their membership and terms of reference in the Library of the House. Details will also be updated on the Cabinet Office website.

Millennium Dome

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the responsibilities of each Department of State in relation to the Dome.

Tony Blair: The Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions is responsible for all issues relating to the future use of the Millennium Dome. This includes the sponsorship of English Partnerships, the Government's urban regeneration agency, which, as landowner and owner of the Dome Structure, is responsible for management and maintenance of the Dome and the Dome site.
	The Department for Culture, Media and Sport provides advice and support to the Shareholder of the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC), currently Lord Falconer of Thoroton.

Incineration

Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his oral answer to the hon. Member for Lewes of 4 July 2001, Official Report, column 256, on what evidence he bases his statement that incineration is a cheaper option than recycling in terms of waste dispersal.

Tony Blair: The Government's overall strategy for waste is first and foremost to cut waste and, secondly, to recycle, and only then to consider incineration and other opinions lower down the waste hierarchy. We are purchasing a range of measures intended to support recycling. These include the £40 million Waste and Resources Action Programme to overcome market barrier to re-use and recycling, increase in the Landfill Tax, and increased financial support for recycling through Spending Review 2000 and the next round of the New Opportunities Fund.
	Relative costs of incineration and recycling are given in the Government's Waste Strategy 2000, Part 2 (appendix C), copies of which have been placed in the Library. This details the independent research which shows incineration is less expensive than recycling under a wide range of conditions.

Public Services

Theresa May: To ask the Prime Minister which teacher trade union representatives were invited to participate in recent discussions on the future of public services held at No. 10 Downing street.

Tony Blair: I did not meet representatives from the teachers' trade unions on this occasion.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Chief Electoral Officer (Report)

David Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish the report of the Chief Electoral Officer for 2000–01.

John Reid: I am pleased to announce that the annual report of the Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland for the year 2000–01 has been laid before Parliament today. Copies are available in the Library.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Senior Salaries Review Body

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will publish the evidence submitted by her Department to the SSRB on returner bonus payments for teachers.

Stephen Timms: On 26 June the Government published the school teachers' review body's report on welcome back bonuses for returners to teaching. I am today placing in the Library copies of the supplementary evidence that officials from my Department submitted to the review body.

Value-added League Tables

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when she will publish details of the basis of calculation for value-added league tables for the academic year 2001–02.

Stephen Timms: Our proposals in respect of value-added measures were set out in detail in the "Publication of School and College Performance Tables in 2001" consultation document issued on 30 March this year, copies of which have been placed in the Library. We are now working with some 200 volunteer schools on a pilot programme for the calculation of measures of progress made from key stage 2 to key stage 3 and from key stage 3 to GCSE/GNVQ. The results of the pilot will be published in the autumn, with a full explanation of the methodology used. The evaluation of this year's pilot, along with further consultation early next year, will inform final decisions on the publication of these two measures for all secondary schools in the 2002 performance tables.

Private Sector Consultants

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list the local education authorities where private sector consultants have been appointed to investigate the management and organisation of future service delivery following adverse Ofsted reports; if she will name the private sector contractor appointed in each case; and if she will publish the value of each of the contracts.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 3 July 2001
	The names of the local education authorities where private sector consultants have been appointed following adverse Ofsted reports are as follows:
	Bradford—PWC
	Bristol—Birmingham LEA/APS Keele
	Derby—Capita
	Dudley—OPM
	Hackney—KPMG and OPM
	Haringey—Capital and PWC
	Islington—PWC
	Leeds—PWC and CGEY
	Leicester City—OPM
	Liverpool—KPMG
	Redbridge—DBi
	Rochdale—KPMG
	Rotherham—OPM
	Sandwell—KPMG
	Sheffield—OPM
	Southwark—KPMG
	Walsall—PWC
	Waltham Forest—PWC.
	The total value of the contracts given is £6.1 million, including VAT on consultancy related to intervention.
	The cost of individual consultancy contracts for intervention work is commercial in confidence.

Further Education Staff

Diana Organ: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills of those students successfully completing a (a) BEd. and (b) teacher training course, how many found employment in (i) schools and (ii) the further education sector in (A) September 2000, (B) September 1999 and (C) September 1993.

Stephen Timms: Successful completers of ITT courses in England 1 in 1993 who entered service up to 31 March 1994 and successful completers of ITT courses in England 1 in 1998 who entered service up to 31 March 1999 (the latest date at which information is available) are as follows:
	
		
			 Calendar year completed course Maintained schools Further Education(8) 
		
		
			 BEd   
			 1993(9) 5,510 30 
			 1998(10) 6,440 30 
			
			 PGCE   
			 1993(9) 9,910 220 
			 1998(10) 10,820 130 
			
			 Total   
			 1993(9) 15,410 240 
			 1998(10) 17,260 160 
			
			  As a percentage of all QTS completers 
			 1993(9) 71 1 
			 1998(10) 70 1 
		
	
	(7) Includes those trained through the Open University
	(8) In addition there are part-time teachers in Further Education whose service is not recorded, as they are not members of the Teachers Pension Scheme
	(9) Includes 163 teachers who trained in England and entered service in maintained schools or FE in Wales
	(10) Includes 148 teachers who trained in England and entered service in maintained schools or FE in Wales
	Other teachers successfully completing a course of ITT will have found employment in the independent schools sector, the HE sector, or in Scotland, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.

Further Education Staff

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of the problems of recruitment and retention of lecturers in the further education sector; and what action she proposes to take.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 9 July 2001
	We have supported financially a project commissioned by the Association of Colleges, "National Review of Staffing and Pay in Further Education", which was undertaken in conjunction with the nationally recognised trade unions for further education (excluding sixth form colleges). We acknowledge that colleges need help to ensure that they have the right arrangements to recruit, reward and retain excellent teachers. Starting this year, significant extra resources amounting to an additional £300 million over the next three years have been made available to the further education sector to reward high calibre staff through our Teaching Pay Initiative, £44 million of which will be shared by sixth form colleges. The total figure is over and above the annual pay round. In addition, we plan to implement arrangements for FE teachers of shortage subjects to benefit from golden hellos comparable to those already in schools and from arrangements we are piloting to help new entrants to the profession to pay off their student loans.

Further Education (Dorset)

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how the Government's commitment to increase the level of funding for the lowest-funded school sixth forms will be applied by the Learning and Skills Council to schools in the Mid-Dorset and North Poole constituency.

Ivan Lewis: There is significant variation at present between the levels of funding given to school sixth forms by local authorities. The Government have given an unprecedented guarantee to school sixth forms that, when the LSC takes over the responsibility for funding them in April 2002, their funding will be maintained, in real terms, at 2000–01 levels, provided their pupil numbers do not fall. This means that convergence can only be upwards. The speed at which convergence can be achieved will depend on the overall availability of resources.

Further Education (Dorset)

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will take steps to increase the level of funding for post-16 school education in the (a) Poole and (b) Dorset local education authorities.

Ivan Lewis: From 2002–03 the funding of post-16 school education in these and other education authorities will be the responsibility of the Learning and Skills Council (LSC). Funds will be passed to schools by their education authorities. The overall total from which the LSC will calculate allocations for each school has yet to be determined, but will be announced shortly. School sixth forms will be protected by a real terms guarantee whereby their funding will not fall provided they maintain their numbers on roll.

Teachers' Pay

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teachers from (a) Hampshire, (b) Southampton, (c) Portsmouth and (d) the Isle of Wight local education authorities received training on teachers' pay thresholds at (i) Winchester, (ii) Brighton and (iii) Portsmouth; and how many teachers in total received that training at each location.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 9 July 2001
	Head teachers from (a) Hampshire, (b) Southampton, (c) Portsmouth and (d) the Isle of Wight local education authorities attended threshold training at Brighton and Winchester. 148 attended training at Brighton; 237 attended training at Winchester. The total number of head teachers trained at Winchester was 675, and the total number trained at Brighton was 655.

Teachers' Pay

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what range of payments is available to returning teachers as returner bonus payments;
	(2)  what criteria are to be used for assessing the eligibility of returning teachers for returner bonus payments.

Stephen Timms: On 26 June 2001 the Government published the school teachers' review body's report on welcome back bonuses for returners to teaching and our response to this report. This response contains our proposals on eligibility for the bonuses and their value. I have placed copies of both the STRB's report and the Government's response in the Library.

Connexions Service

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many advisers have been employed for the Connexions Service; and how many vacancies remain.

Ivan Lewis: The 12 partnerships that went live on 1 April 2001 are in a transition stage, building up their personal adviser staff from partner organisations, including the Careers Service and Youth Service, and by recruitment of new staff. Preliminary figures reported by partnerships at the end of May 2001 indicate that 991 full-time equivalent personal advisers were in post.

Education Committees

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what guidance her Department has given to local authorities on the role of external members of education committees in authorities with a leader and combined structure.

Stephen Timms: Guidance on the role of parent governor and diocesan representatives on local authority committees dealing with education is given through "Replacement Chapter 3 (Overview and scrutiny under executive arrangements) of the Local Government Act 2000: Guidance to English district councils and London borough councils". This guidance was issued on 15 March 2001 by the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions in conjunction with the Department for Education and Skills.
	In addition, parent governor and diocesan representatives have access to the joint member training programme of the Department for Education and Skills and the Local Government Association. The programme includes a CD-ROM on school standards with guidance on council constitutions.

Examinations

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what guidance her Department gave to the QCA on the new Art A-level and AS-level syllabuses.

Ivan Lewis: The Department does not offer advice on the content of individual specifications. The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority is responsible for the development of A/AS-level criteria and the accreditation of A/AS specifications.

Examinations

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list those who were consulted prior to the determination of the new Art A-level and AS-level syllabuses.

Ivan Lewis: The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority consulted representatives from the awarding bodies, schools, colleges, Higher Education, subject association, examiners, Welsh and Northern Ireland regulatory authorities, local education authorities and a small number of employers in developing the A/AS Art and Design criteria and accrediting the specifications.

Examinations

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make public the remit letter of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority inquiry into AS-level examinations.

Ivan Lewis: holding answer 9 July 2001
	A copy of the remit letter will be placed in the Library together with the report of the QCA's review.

Examinations

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many A-level exam scripts were returned to schools for checking following publication of the results for the academic year 1999–2000; and how many results were challenged.

Ivan Lewis: A total sum of 51,572 A-level examination scripts were returned to schools. 29,628 results were challenged, which represented 3.8 per cent. of the A-level examination entries. Out of that, 4,644 resulted in a grade change, representing 0.6 per cent. of all entries.

Graduate Teacher Programme

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what changes have been made to the Graduate Teacher Programme since 18 January.

Stephen Timms: On 12 March my right hon. Friend the then Secretary of State announced new funding to take the total number of Graduate Teacher Programme places available from 1,680 to 2,250 a year. Altogether, since 18 January 1,729 places on the programme have been allocated, 1,534 of those to schools outside London. In addition, my Department and the Teacher Training Agency have been working together on proposals to simplify the administration of the programme. The regulations needed to bring this about will be laid before Parliament in due course.

School Inspection Review

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will publish the evidence submitted by her Department to Ofsted for its review of the inspection regime.

Stephen Timms: My Department will not be submitting evidence to Ofsted. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I have discussed with HM Chief Inspector the need for the inspection regime to continue to evolve to meet the changing needs of teachers, governors, parents and other stakeholders. We welcome the consultation exercise which HM Chief Inspector will launch later this year.

Departmental Awayday

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which Ministers and officials attended her Department's Awayday meeting; where the meeting was held; and what the cost of the meeting was.

Estelle Morris: The Department's Awayday was held at Cumberland Lodge, Windsor, Berkshire. Ministerial colleagues, senior civil servants and I undertook a review of current policies and strategic priorities. My ministerial colleagues at the Department for Education and Skills and I attended the Awayday along with the Department's board. The event was also attended by the Department's Whips and parliamentary private secretaries. The head of policy from No. 10 attended for part of the Awayday and the head of the No. 10 delivery unit was a guest speaker. Officials from the Department serviced the event and provided the secretariat.
	The provisional cost of the event is £4,000. Should the final total differ significantly from our estimate I will write to the hon. Member with the new information and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

Classroom Sizes

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average classroom size of state schools is within the Greater London area.

Stephen Timms: The size of the average maintained primary and maintained secondary class in Greater London in January 2001 was 27.0 and 22.1 respectively. Comparable figures for England are 26.7 and 22.0. The latest class data were recently published in a Statistical First Release "Class Sizes in Maintained Schools in England 2001" on 6 April, copies of which are available from the Library, or alternatively can be accessed from the Department for Education and Skills' statistical website www.dfes.gsi.gov.uk/statistics.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Ilisu Dam

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent consultations she has had with the Turkish Government about the building of the Ilisu Dam.

Patricia Hewitt: Neither I nor my predecessor have had any discussions with the Turkish Government about the building of the Ilisu Dam. Officials at ECGD are in contact with the Turkish authorities regarding the project.

Universal Bank

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans the Government have to ensure that customers of banks and building societies which are not participating members of the Universal Bank are able to withdraw cash from post offices free of charge.

Douglas Alexander: holding answer 5 July 2001
	We are continuing discussions with banks and building societies not party to the Memorandum of Understanding on universal banking services.

Export Credits Guarantee Department

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the total of (a) premiums received and (b) claims paid by the Export Credits Guarantee Department was in each business area in each of the last 10 financial years.

Patricia Hewitt: For the last 10 years the figures for premium received, claims paid and recoveries are as follows:
	
		
			 Financial Year Premium Claims Recoveries Net Position 
		
		
			 1990–91 158.5 967.50 477.70 - 331.30 
			 1991–92 159.0 954.10 472.90 - 322.20 
			 1992–93 140.0 734.30 484.00 - 110.30 
			 1993–94 112.0 512.00 416.00 16.00 
			 1994–95 113.0 422.00 341.10 32.10 
			 1995–96 106.0 295.00 473.00 284.00 
			 1996–97 130.0 231.00 558.00 457.00 
			 1997–98 127.0 165.70 517.00 478.30 
			 1998–99 81.0 145.00 425.00 361.00 
			 1999–2000 102.0 296.00 343.00 149.00 
		
	
	ECGD does not maintain its records on a basis, which would enable it to provide a breakdown across business area as requested without disproportionate cost.

Yorkshire and Humber Region (Exports)

Helen Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the overall value of exports was from the Yorkshire and Humber region in each of the last five years to (a) Europe and (b) the USA; and if she will indicate separately the figures for steel and related products.

Alan Johnson: The available information is given in the table:
	
		Exports of goods from Yorkshire and the Humber
		
			   £ million  
			  EU USA 
		
		
			 1999 4,946 754 
			 2000 5,508 928 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Information prior to 1999 is not available.
	2. Separate figures for steel and related products are not available.
	3. Exports of goods to Europe below the Intrastat reporting threshold cannot be allocated to any region and are, therefore, excluded. Below-threshold trade accounts for some 2 to 2.5 per cent. of UK exports of goods to the EU.

Age Discrimination

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she proposes to review the need for statutory action in respect of age discrimination in employment.

Alan Johnson: The Government intend, in line with the European Employment Directive (2000/78/EC), to introduce legislation to outlaw age discrimination in employment and training and will start public consultations later this year.

Small Business Service

Eric Joyce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what operational targets she has set for the Small Business Service for 2001–02.

Nigel Griffiths: The Small Business Service was established on 3 April 2000 as an Executive Agency. It has had a successful first year and the first annual report has today been placed in the Library of the House.
	The vision of the SBS is for the UK to be the best place in the world to start and grow a business. Its purpose is to build an enterprise society in which small businesses thrive and achieve their potential.
	The objectives of the SBS are: to be a strong voice for small business at the heart of Government, ensuring that Government is aware of, and responsive to, the needs of all small businesses; to strive for a regulatory framework which minimises the burdens on business; to develop and maintain a world-class business support service to enhance businesses' competitiveness and profitability; and to champion the importance of entrepreneurship across society, particularly in under-represented and disadvantaged groups.
	The SBS will review its plans regularly in response to the needs of small business. In line with the requirement for Executive Agencies to be given operational targets, I have set the following targets for the 2001–02 year:
	Put in place a set of actions for reforming the regulatory environment for small businesses by March 2002.
	Customer satisfaction at least 80 per cent. for all services.
	Unprompted and prompted awareness of Business Link branded services among small businesses to rise to 20 and 80 per cent. respectively by March 2002.
	All advisers delivering BL services meet new standards by April 2002.
	Develop new funding streams to help plug the financing gap for start-ups and small growing firms; first investments for early stage financing of growth by December 2001.
	Launch new Business Incubation Fund, by September 2001, and announce first loans by December 2001.
	Increase accessibility of support, including loan finance, in under-invested areas, and have at least 105 projects, including 15 Community Finance Initiatives, covering all the English regions up and running by March 2002.
	100 per cent. of valid invoices to be paid within 30 days.

Regional Development Agencies

Eric Joyce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she will decide which Regional Development Agency chairs and board members are being reappointed.

Patricia Hewitt: I am pleased to announce that I intend to re-appoint the Chairs of the eight Regional Development Agencies in England (outside London) for varying terms. The new appointments, of periods of up to three years, will take effect from 14 December 2001.
	I particularly want to thank Lord Thomas (Chair of the North West Development Agency) for agreeing to stay on until March next year, allowing more time for a successor to be found and for Lord Thomas to complete his six-month term as Chair of the RDA Chairs which begins in October. I would like to thank Lord Thomas for his dedication and commitment to the North West Region over many years and to the dynamic and effective leadership he has given to the RDA since its creation in 1999.
	The London Development Agency Chair is an appointment of the Mayor of London and was made on 3 July 2000.
	As far as the RDA Boards are concerned, I have decided to aim to increase business representation. I hope to be able to appoint or re-appoint members with current or recent business experience to at least half of the places on board.
	I intend to honour the commitment given in Parliament during the passing of the Regional Development Agencies Act 1998 to have four board members with local authority experience and at least one with knowledge of rural issues. As before, the rest of the places will go to those with experience of relevance to the work of the RDAs, such as trade unions, further and higher education and the voluntary sector. I expect that most board members may have experience relevant to more than one area of the RDA's work and so hope the boards will reflect as wide a range of interests as before.

Regeneration

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what support her Department is giving to EMDA's involvement in regeneration in Warsop and Warsop Vale.

Alan Johnson: holding answer 5 July 2001
	The Department is working with the East Midland Development Agency on a range of initiatives to support the regeneration of Warsop and Warsop Vale including the Meden Valley Partnership Special Purpose Vehicle and the Malcolm Sargisson Community Resource Centre.

Post Office

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions she has had with the Post Office on maintenance of rural deliveries in areas of foot and mouth disease.

Douglas Alexander: I have been advised by Consignia (the new name for the Post Office) that Royal Mail and Parcelforce Worldwide are following advice from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs about delivering letters and parcels during the current outbreak of foot and mouth disease. Guidelines have been issued to all staff about deliveries in affected areas, with advice on appropriate precautions.

Post Office

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many premises in Cumbria are not receiving a postal service to the door because of foot and mouth disease.

Douglas Alexander: I have been advised by Consignia that 3,733 premises in Cumbria are not receiving a postal service to the door as a result of the foot and mouth outbreak.
	Consignia is in constant contact with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. The company is offering alternative arrangements to customers, and aims for the full service to be restored when the current outbreak has been eradicated.

International Law

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what notice her Department has received of alleged breaches of (a) UK sovereignty and (b) international law in areas covered by her Department in the last six months; and if she will make a statement.

Melanie Johnson: My Department is responsible for a wide range of areas of international law. I would ask the hon. Member to write to me indicating his particular areas of concern.

Planning Laws

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations her Department has received in the last 12 months concerning reform of planning laws affecting business.

Melanie Johnson: The Department has had a number of representations from the business community about the planning system. We have been consulting widely over the last year with all key stakeholders interfacing with the planning system to explore its impact on business and competitiveness.
	The Government have recently announced a reform of planning and we are working closely on this with the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Police Helmets

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about his Department's plans to redesign police helmets; and what criteria he proposes to use to decide on the future design.

John Denham: There are no specific plans to introduce a new design for police helmets. Standards and specifications are constantly monitored to ensure that all headgear is fit for purpose and affords the appropriate level of protection, including complying with Health and Safety legislation, which has applied to the police since June 1998.

Helicopter Accident, Leicestershire

Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the coroner's inquest into those who died in the Lynx helicopter crash near Tilton on the Hill, Leicestershire on 17 May 1999 will be allowed to proceed.

Beverley Hughes: The inquest was adjourned pending receipt of a copy of the Ministry of Defence Board of Inquiry report. Although this has now become available, completion of the coroner's inquiries and the absence abroad of a prospective key witness delayed finalising arrangements for the next hearing. Having regard to the witness's availability and the need to make progress in the interests of the families, I understand that the coroner expects to hold the inquest by late September or early October.

Oldham

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what remarks were made concerning Oldham in the UK periodic report to the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of all forms of Racial Discrimination.

Angela Eagle: The United Kingdom's 15th periodic report to the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of all forms of Racial Discrimination (UNCERD) was published in July 1999. The report details the legislative, judicial and administrative measures undertaken in the United Kingdom to address racism. The report provided an overview of the situation in the United Kingdom and did not therefore detail the situation in local areas or towns such a Oldham.

Oldham

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further measures he plans to take to promote improved community relations in Oldham.

Angela Eagle: Shortly after the disturbance my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary met representatives from Oldham metropolitan borough council and Greater Manchester police, as well as hon. Members representing Oldham, to discuss the situation in the town. As a result, an action plan for recovery, to be prepared in Oldham following a review which will encompass the contribution of all sectors of the local community, is to be prepared within the next four months. The Home Secretary made it clear that the Government, across all Departments, stand ready to offer whatever support and independent advice is needed to help towns such as Oldham (and Burnley, which has of course since suffered similar disorder) begin to heal their divisions and build a better future.
	I visited Oldham on 25 June to meet local people about the town's problems at first hand. However, the primary job of tackling the root causes of the complex social and specific problems that give rise to divisions and disturbances of this kind must be done at local level. We do of course welcome any local initiatives that help to address these issues in a constructive manner.

Oldham

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of progress in eliminating racial discrimination in Oldham.

Angela Eagle: My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary and I have sought the views of our race advisers and the Commission for Racial Equality on the issue of racial discrimination in Oldham and the extent to which it can be seen as a factor behind the recent disturbances there. My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has also met representatives of Oldham council, local police, young people and local hon. Members to discuss this and other aspects of the situation. The Home Secretary has also asked the Government Office for the North-West for its views as to how matters can be improved in this area. I hope that, with our support, those who want to tackle racial discrimination in Oldham and its associated problems will identify what needs to be done over the weeks and months ahead. At the Home Secretary's meeting with local representatives it was agreed that within four months a local action programme would be prepared. This will no doubt contain, among other things, proposals for combating racial discrimination in Oldham.

Prisoners (Conditions)

Ann Widdecombe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much time was spent unlocked in (a) male local prisons, (b) male closed training prisons, (c) male young offender institutions, (d) female prisons and (e) female young offender institutions in (i) 1996–97, (ii) 1999–2000 and (iii) 2000–01; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: The average time out of cell per weekday in male local prisons, male closed training prisons, male young offender institutions, female prisons and female young offender institutions for the years 1999–2000 and 2000–01 are listed in the table. Comparable data for 1996–97 are not available. Establishments are categorised by their main role only. Female young offender institutions are included in the relevant part of the female estate.
	
		
			  1999–2000(11) 2000–01(11) 
		
		
			 Category B 10.7 10.6 
			 Category C 11.3 10.8 
			 Dispersal 9.5 9.5 
			 Female closed 11.2 11.3 
			 Female local 10.8 9.1 
			 Female open 18.5 19.0 
			 Male closed young offender 9.3 8.4 
			 Male juvenile 10.8 10.8 
			 Male local 8.8 8.8 
			 Male open young offender 12.7 12.9 
			 Male remand centre 8.1 6.9 
		
	
	(11) Average time out of cell (weekdays)

Prisoners (Conditions)

Ann Widdecombe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners were (a) employed in industrial workshops and (b) employed in agriculture and horticulture, in (i) 1996–97, (ii) 1999–2000 and (iii) 2000–01; how many prisoners were employed as a percentage of the prison population in each of these periods; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: The tables set out the number of prisoners employed in industrial workshops and in agriculture and horticulture, expressed as a percentage of the average prison population for the year from 1996 to the most recently available data.
	
		Industrial workshops
		
			 Year Number of prisoners As a percentage of average annual prison population 
		
		
			 1996–97 7,601 13.41 
			 1999–2000 9,527 14.70 
			 2000–01(12) 10,429 16.15 
		
	
	(12) Figures shown for 2000–01 are calculated from April 2000 and March 2001 figures. Workshop figures for 2000–01 include craft and charity workshops which were excluded from the figures for previous years
	
		Agriculture and horticulture
		
			 Year Number of prisoners As a percentage of annual prison population 
		
		
			 1996–97(13) 1,395 2,46 
			 1999–2000 1,988 3.06 
			 2000–01 1,926 2.98 
		
	
	(13) The figures provided are not entirely comparable because the figures for 1996–97 exclude amenity maintenance, included in later years

Prisoners (Conditions)

Ann Widdecombe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the total number of hours of educational study was in (a) male local prisons, (b) male open prisons, (c) male closed training prisons, (d) male young offender institutions, (e) female prisons and (f) female young offender institutions in (i) 1996–97, (ii) 1999–2000 and (iii) 2000–01; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: The total number of hours of educational study for male local prisons, male open prisons, male closed training prisons, male young offender institutions and female prisons in 1996–97, 1999–2000 and 2000–01 is listed in the table.
	Establishments are categorised by their main role only. Female young offender institutions are included in the relevant part of the female estate.
	
		
			 Function name 1996–97 1999–2000 2000–01 
		
		
			 Category B 1,282,248 1,536,783 1,637,976 
			 Category C 6,038,900 6,452,503 6,681,851 
			 Dispersal 805,420 778,398 799,868 
			 Female closed 294,648 382,229 422,478 
			 Female local 490,052 472,973 531,418 
			 Female open 347,032 300,732 201,368 
			 Male closed YOI 2,846,087 3,147,571 3,446,699 
			 Male juvenile 94,480 136,274 125,254 
			 Male local 4,171,057 6,511,304 6,600,486 
			 Male open 1,620,819 1,179,529 1,196,511 
			 Male open YOI 368,838 358,905 325,660 
			 Male remand centre 67,699 104,159 117,943

Criminal Case Reviews

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many convicted prisoners have asked for a review of their cases on the basis of re-examination of evidential material for DNA proof; what the response to those requests has been; and if he will make a statement.

Keith Bradley: This kind of information is not readily available from the Criminal Cases Review Commission's current management information system, and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Prison Sentences (Women)

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women have been sentenced to imprisonment for murder by courts in England and Wales during the last 12 months.

Keith Bradley: 12 women were sentenced to life imprisonment for murder in England and Wales in 1999, the latest year for which figures are available. In addition, three were sentenced to detention under section 53 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 and one to custody for life.

Prison Sentences (Women)

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women have been sentenced to imprisonment by courts in England and Wales during the last 12 months for abuse of children.

Keith Bradley: Those who abuse children can be charged with a number of offences. Some of these offences, such as assault causing actual bodily harm and common assault do not identify the age of the victim and it is not possible to provide details of all crimes where children are victims from Home Office statistics. The table shows the statistics for those offences where it is possible to identify a child victim of whatever age.
	
		Number of women sentenced to imprisonment, by offence type, England and Wales 1999
		
			 Indictable offences Sentenced to a young offender institution Sentenced to an unsuspended sentence of imprisonment Total sentenced to immediate custody 
		
		
			 Violence against the person
			 Murder of infant under one year of age — 1 1 
			 Child destruction — 1 1 
			 Cruelty to, or neglect of children 3 42 45 
			 Child abduction 1 1 2 
			 
			 Sexual offences
			 Indecent assault on male person under 16 years — 4 4 
			 Attempted rape of a male aged under 16(14) 1 — 1 
			 Indecent assault on a female under 16 1 5 6 
			 
			 Other indictable offences
			 Take or make indecent photographs, or pseudo-photographs, of children — 1 1 
			  
			 Total 6 55 61 
		
	
	(14) Rape and attempted rape offences under the Sexual Offences Act 1956, section 1, as amended by the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, section 142

Prison Population

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the prison population was in each year from 1989 to 2000 inclusive; what the expected totals are for 2001 to 2005; and what percentage in all years drug offenders represent.

Beverley Hughes: The average prison population in England and Wales from 1989 to 2000, and the percentage of these totals that were sentenced drug offenders, is shown in the table.
	The average prison population for 2001 to 2005 will depend on factors prevailing during those years. 'Projections of Long Term Trends in Prison Population to 2008', available in the Library, hypothesises time scenarios. The projected figures from the middle scenarios have been included in the table. However, the percentages that are expected to be drug offences are not available.
	
		
			 Year Prison population on 30 June Percentage of total serving sentences for drug offences(15) 
		
		
			 1989 48,610 6.61 
			 1990 45,636 6.90 
			 1991 45,897 6.22 
			 1992 45,817 6.89 
			 1993 44,566 7.20 
			 1994 48,794 7.20 
			 1995 51,047 8.34 
			 1996 55,281 10.41 
			 1997 61,114 11.74 
			 1998 65,298 12.09 
			 1999 64,771 12.61 
			 2000 64,602 13.12 
			 2001(16) 65,900 — 
			 2002(16) 67,300 — 
			 2003(16) 68,900 — 
			 2004(16) 70,500 — 
			 2005(16) 72,000 — 
		
	
	(15) Rounded to two decimal places
	(16) Projected figures

Prison Population

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the UK prison population is expressed as a number per 100,000 population; and what the latest figures are for other Council of Europe member states.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 9 July 2001
	Provisional information based on the average population in England and Wales in 2000, and the average population in prisons in England and Wales in 2000, shows there were 113 people in a prison establishment per 100,000 of the general population.
	Provisional information is available for England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland separately. It is shown in the table along with rates for those countries in Europe for which data are available.
	
		
			  Country Rate(18) per 100,000 population in 2000 
		
		
			 EU member states average  
			 England and Wales(19) 124 
			 Northern Ireland 60 
			 Scotland(20) 115 
			 Austria(21) 84 
			 Belgium(20) 83 
			 Cyprus (22)37 
			 Czech Republic(23) 208 
			 Denmark 61 
			 Estonia(24) 330 
			 Finland(23) 52 
			 France(25) (22)89 
			 Germany(24) 97 
			 Greece 76 
			 Hungary(23) 157 
			 Ireland (Eire) 80 
			 Italy 94 
			 Luxembourg (22)90 
			 Netherlands(26) 87 
			 Norway(19) n/a 
			 Poland(18) 170 
			 Portugal 127 
			 Russia(23) 465 
			 Slovenia 57 
			 Spain(23) 114 
			 Sweden(27) 64 
			 Switzerland 79 
			 Australia(20) (22)108 
			 Canada(28) (22)123 
			 Japan(19) 47 
			 New Zealand(21) (22)149 
			 South Africa(20) 385 
			 USA(29) 702 
		
	
	(17) At 1 September: number of prisoners including pre-trial detainees
	(18) Based on estimates of national population
	(19) At 31 August
	(20) Annual daily population
	(21) Annual averages
	(22) In 1999
	(23) At 31 December
	(24) At 31 January
	(25) Metropolitan and overseas departments
	(26) At 1 September
	(27) At 30 September
	(28) Annual average by financial year (1 April-31 March)
	(29) At 30 June
	n/a = not available
	Source:
	Statistical contacts in each country
	Version:
	18 June 2001

Drug Treatment and Testing Orders

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his assessment is of the efficacy of drug treatment and testing orders in (a) reducing drug consumption and (b) reducing participation in criminal activity, expressed as a percentage of UK drug use and crime totals.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 9 July 2001
	It is too early for an assessment of the effect of the order on drug misuse and crime since roll-out in October 2000. Evaluation of the pilots run under the management of the Merseyside, south-east London and Gloucestershire probation services found that the average amount spent on drugs by offenders subject to drug treatment and testing orders fell from £400 per week in the period before arrest to £25 per week in the early stages of the order and the number of crimes committed by such offenders fell from an average of 137 offences in the month before arrest to around 34 per month after only six weeks on the order. A reconviction study will be carried out in due course.

Drug Treatment and Testing Orders

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his assessment is of the continuing effects of the drug treatment and testing orders pilot scheme undertaken in Croydon, Liverpool and Gloucester.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 9 July 2001
	The independent evaluation of the three pilot schemes found that those who had completed or were nearing the completion of the order at the end of the evaluation period reported that they had stopped offending and in nearly all cases were drug free, except for cannabis use. A reconviction study will be carried out in due course.
	Following successful pilots, the drug treatment and testing order was rolled-out to courts throughout England and Wales on 1 October 2000. Latest figures available show that between October 2000and May this year, over 1,750 orders have been made. The pilot evaluation has informed the development of a national standard and related guidance for the implementation of the order.

Young Offenders

George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many convicted offenders are being held in each young offenders institution, broken down by (a) average age, (b) average length of sentence and (c) category of offence; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: Provisional data are in a table, which has been placed in the Library.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Occupied Territories

Brian Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on illegal settlements in the occupied territories.

Ben Bradshaw: The Government deplore all settlement activity in the occupied territories (including East Jerusalem). It is illegal under international law and a serious obstacle to peace.
	We continue to urge both parties to implement swiftly and in full the complete package of the recommendations of the Mitchell Committee report, which includes a freeze on all settlement activity.

Nice Treaty

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what meetings he has had with ministerial counterparts from the Republic of Ireland to discuss the Nice treaty; and if he will make a statement.

Jack Straw: I met my ministerial counterparts from the Republic of Ireland at the 11 and 25 June General Affairs Council and at the Gothenburg European Council.
	As I explained to the House last week, member states have expressed their readiness to help the Irish Government find a way forward, taking into account the concerns reflected by the result of the 7 June referendum, without reopening the text of the Nice treaty.

Nice Treaty

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his Irish counterpart regarding the treaty of Nice.

Peter Hain: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary to the Member for New Forest, East (Dr. Lewis), UIN 1554.

Sri Lanka

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he will meet representatives of the Government of Sri Lanka to discuss human rights issues and the state's policy towards the Tamil people; and if he will make a statement.

Jack Straw: We remain concerned by reports of human rights abuses in Sri Lanka, and continue to remind the Government of the need to respect human rights. We are also concerned about the plight of civilians affected by the conflict and have urged the Sri Lankan Government and the LTTE to cease hostilities and work with Norway to conclude a peaceful settlement.
	I look forward to discussing a range of issues with the Sri Lankan Government in due course.

Sri Lanka

Andrew Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress in the peace negotiations in Sri Lanka.

Ben Bradshaw: We continue to give our wholehearted support to Norway's efforts to facilitate peace talks between the Sri Lankan Government and the LTTE. We urge both parties to the conflict to intensify their efforts and work with the Norwegians to find a peaceful, negotiated settlement that meets the aspirations of all communities in Sri Lanka.

Jews (Iran)

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the treatment of imprisoned Jews in Iran.

Ben Bradshaw: Nine of the Jews sentenced in Shiraz on alleged espionage charges last year remain imprisoned. We understand that the prisoners continue to have access to newspapers, Kosher food, twice-weekly visits from their families and are held in a group cell. The sentences were reduced on appeal in September 2000.

Israel

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will meet the Foreign Minister of Israel to discuss bilateral trade and the peace process; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: On his first working day in his new role on 11 June, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary met Israeli Foreign Minister, Shimon Peres, and discussed the situation in the Middle East. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister met Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, on 24 June. The Middle East Peace Process featured prominently in their discussion, as did bilateral issues such as trade.

Israel

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about discussions which took place during the recent visit to the United Kingdom by the Prime Minister of Israel.

Ben Bradshaw: My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister met Israeli Prime Minister Sharon during Prime Minister Sharon's short stop-over visit to the UK on Sunday 24 June. Much of the discussion focused on the present situation in the Middle East. The Prime Minister urged Prime Minister Sharon to take urgent steps in parallel with the Palestinians to implement in full the recommendations of the Mitchell Committee report.

Death Penalty

Ken Purchase: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his policy on campaigning internationally against the death penalty.

Peter Hain: The British Government oppose the death penalty in all circumstances. We have gained a reputation as a leading advocate of worldwide abolition, not least through the work of our Death Penalty Panel.
	The British Government also co-sponsor the EU resolution on the death penalty tabled at the UN Commission on Human Rights in Geneva.
	We shall continue to work tirelessly, both bilaterally and with the EU partners, to further the worldwide trend towards abolition of the death penalty.

Zimbabwe

Barbara Follett: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the political situation in Zimbabwe; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: We remain concerned at the situation in Zimbabwe. We would like to see an end to violence and intimidation; positive steps by the Zimbabwe Government to create the conditions for free and fair election; economic reform; and the introduction of a sustainable land reform programme, in line with the principle agreed by the Government of Zimbabwe and the international donors at the 1998 Land conference.

Zimbabwe

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the political situation in Zimbabwe.

Ben Bradshaw: We are concerned by continuing violence and intimidation by the war veterans. The people of Zimbabwe must be allowed to vote freely, and without fear; and to live and work in a country governed by the rule of law.

Zimbabwe

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent visit of Commonwealth Ministers to Zimbabwe.

Ben Bradshaw: There has been no Commonwealth ministerial visit to Zimbabwe this year.

Kyoto Protocol

Linda Gilroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to press for international implementation of the Kyoto protocols.

Peter Hain: Climate change is one of the most important global issues we face. It is the firm policy of this Government to press for a successful outcome to the Sixth Conference of the Parties (COP6) in Bonn and to work towards ratification and entry into force of the Kyoto Treaty in 2002.

Gibraltar

Michael Trend: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's policy on Gibraltar.

Peter Hain: The Government will continue to stand by their commitments to the people of Gibraltar as set out in the Preamble to the Gibraltar Constitution. We have agreed with Spain to resume ministerial level talks on Gibraltar under the Brussels Process, and aim to use these talks to re-establish a framework for dialogue with Spain on a number of issues concerning Gibraltar. The Government intend that the Government of Gibraltar should be fully engaged in this process.

Nepal

Bill O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Nepalese Government.

Ben Bradshaw: Our Ambassador in Kathmandu has had substantive discussions with the Nepalese Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and Finance Minister since the beginning of June.

Peru

Tom Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's relations with Peru.

Denis MacShane: We congratulate the Peruvian Government on the successful conclusion of their elections and look forward to working closely with the new President, Alejandro Toledo. I shall be representing my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister at the inauguration ceremony in Lima on 28 July. We express again our sorrow at the recent earthquake in Peru to which we pledged £250,000 of emergency relief.

World Service

Valerie Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the impact of the work of the BBC World Service.

Denis MacShane: The BBC World Service is the best known and most respected voice in international broadcasting, increasing respect for, and good will towards, Britain around the world. The Government aim to ensure that the World Service retains its pre-eminent position. That is why we are providing an extra £64 million for it in 2001–04.

Kashmir

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the prospects of self-determination for the people of Kashmir.

Ben Bradshaw: It is clear that any solution in Kashmir must involve, and reflect the views of, the people of Kashmir. We have therefore welcomed the Indian Government's decision to engage in dialogue with Kashmiris. We hope that all parties directly involved will find a just and lasting settlement soon.

Kashmir

Lorna Fitzsimons: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in allowing human rights monitors to enter Indian-occupied Kashmir.

Ben Bradshaw: We have consistently urged the Indian authorities to allow access to Kashmir for international human rights bodies, including the UN Rapporteurs on Torture and on Extra-judicial Executions and the Working Group on Disappearances, and organisations such as Amnesty International. We are disappointed that, after repeated requests from the organisations concerned, such visits have not yet been authorised.

Macedonia

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to meet with President Boris Trajkovski to discuss the situation in Macedonia.

Denis MacShane: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary plans to visit Macedonia soon. He spoke to President Trajkovski on 3 July and repeated our full support for the President's efforts to bring about a political settlement through dialogue. The situation in Macedonia remains grave but is not beyond repair. Early signs of progress are now beginning to emerge with a ceasefire agreement and positive movement on a political settlement.

European Council

Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his priorities for the European Council meetings in the coming year.

Peter Hain: We want the European Council in its meetings in the next 12 months to help maintain the momentum in the enlargement negotiations, so that these can be completed by the end of 2002 with those candidate countries which are ready; and, at the same time, to do whatever is necessary to assist the process of ratifying the Nice treaty. The European Council should promote the open debate on the future development of the EU as part of the preparation for the 2004 Intergovernmental Conference. It should continue its work in promoting a liberal global trading system, and in modernising Europe's economy to create more and better jobs, as agreed at Lisbon in 2000. It should review progress in implementing the sustainable development strategy agreed at Gothenburg last month. It should continue to create an area of freedom, security and justice, as agreed at Tampere in 1999; and in developing the common Foreign and Security Policy and the European Security and Defence Policy, and the Union's external relations more generally, to ensure that Europe's interests and objectives are properly projected on the world stage.

Kenya

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on bilateral relations with Kenya.

Ben Bradshaw: The UK enjoys strong bilateral ties with Kenya. The UK is Kenya's second largest export market and Kenya's largest source of imports.
	We strongly support Kenya's economic reform process. This should bring sustained economic growth, greater accountability and efficiency in the public sector, and improved services to the poor.

European Parliaments

Rosemary McKenna: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals he has to strengthen relations between Parliaments in Europe.

Peter Hain: My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has proposed that representatives of national parliaments be more involved in European matters through a Second Chamber of the European Parliament which could review the EU's work and provide democratic oversight at a European level of the Common Foreign and Security Policy.
	The role of national parliament in the European architecture is one of the agenda items for the next Intergovernmental Conference in 2004. We welcome all contributions to the debate on this issue.

Western Sahara

Michael Clapham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Western Sahara.

Ben Bradshaw: We fully support the efforts of the UN Secretary General, his Personal Envoy, James Baker, and the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) to find a just and lasting solution to the situation in Western Sahara.

UN Commission on Human Rights (Voting Records)

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the recorded outcome of the vote was, how his vote was cast, and which other states voted with him at the UN Commission on Human Rights in March and April on (a) statement 2001/3 submitted by Cuba on mercenaries, (b) statement 2001/16 submitted by the Czech Republic on Cuba, (c) statement 2001/26 submitted by South Africa on human rights unilateral coercive measures and (d) statement 2001/36 submitted by Cuba on popular participation and democracy.

Peter Hain: The Commission on Human Rights is one of the main forums in which international human rights standards are drawn up and monitored. We are committed to playing a major role at CHR, and ensuring that human rights violations, wherever they take place, are brought to the attention of the international community.
	The UK voted against the Cuban resolution on the use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination (2001/3). It was adopted by 35 votes to 11 with six abstentions. Japan, the Czech Republic, Latvia, Poland, Romania, Belgium, Canada, Germany, Norway and the US also voted against.
	The UK voted for the Czech resolution on the Situation of Human Rights in Cuba (2001/16). It was adopted by 22 votes to 20 with 10 abstentions. Cameroon, Madagascar, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the Czech Republic, Latvia, Poland, Romania, Argentina, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Uruguay, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Spain and the US voted with the UK.
	The UK voted against the South African resolution on Human Rights and Unilateral Coercive Measures (2001/26). The resolution was adopted by 37 votes to seven with eight abstentions. (Japan, Latvia, Poland, Germany, Norway and the US also voted against).
	The UK voted against the Cuban resolution on Strengthening of Popular Participation, Equity, Social Justice and Non-discrimination as Essential Foundations of Democracy (2001/36). The resolution was adopted by 28 votes to four with 21 abstentions. (Germany, Japan, and the USA also voted against).
	I will send my hon. Friend a full voting record, which shows how each CHR member voted on each resolution. A copy will also be placed in the House of Commons Library.

EU Enlargement

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he will respond to the Foreign Affairs Committee's Fifth Report of Session 2000–01: European Union Enlargement and Nice Follow-up, HC318.

Peter Hain: The Government's response to the Foreign Affairs Committee's report will be laid before the House rises on 20 July.

Iraq

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been received from the Government of the Russian Federation concerning Her Majesty's Government's recent proposals to the Security Council of the United Nations on Smart sanctions on Iraq.

Ben Bradshaw: On 1 June 2001 the UN Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 1352, confirming its agreement to the principles which we and the US had proposed to change the sanctions regime against Iraq. Later this month, however, Russian Foreign Minister Ivanov sent a message to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, in which he made it clear that the Russian Federation would not allow the adoption of our draft resolution detailing those new arrangements. There have also been regular discussions at official level both in New York and elsewhere in recent months. We will continue to try to resolve outstanding issues with the Council members in the hope of introducing our new approach as soon as possible.

Iraq

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library copies of the recent proposals by Her Majesty's Government to the Security Council of the United Nations concerning Smart sanctions on Iraq.

Ben Bradshaw: I have placed in the Library copies of the intervention made by our Permanent Representative to the United Nations during the formal Security Council debate on Iraq on 26 and 28 June and his Explanation of Vote during consideration of the oil for food rollover resolution on 3 July. These set out the proposals we have put forward for changes to the UN sanctions regime against Iraq.

Iraq

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent decision by the United Nations Security Council to delay a decision on sanctions against Iraq for another five months.

Ben Bradshaw: On 1 June 2001 the UN Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 1352, confirming its agreement to the principles which we and the US had proposed to change UN controls on Iraq. The Council set itself 30 days to agree the details of arrangements to improve the flow of civilian goods to the Iraqi people while maintaining controls on Iraq's weapons of mass destruction. Despite widespread international support for these proposals the Council was unable to agree the details within that time scale. While we regret that we were unable to introduce the new system as early as we had wished, we remain serious about addressing the Iraqi people's needs and controls on Iraq's weapons. Work will therefore continue in New York to resolve the outstanding issues as soon as possible.

Nuclear Material (Russia)

David Chidgey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last reviewed the aid budget allocated to assist the former Soviet Union with a programme to contain then reduce the hazards from deteriorating nuclear material in the Murmansk region.

Peter Hain: In 2000 Her Majesty's Government carried out a comprehensive review of the nuclear safety and security problems in the countries of the former Soviet Union. This included an assessment of the hazards from deteriorating nuclear material in the Murmansk region. As a result of the review the UK pledged £84 million over three years to tackle a range of nuclear problems in the former Soviet Union, including that material in the Murmansk region. This budget is regularly reviewed by an inter-departmental committee, which includes officials from the FCO.

Nuclear Material (Russia)

David Chidgey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met his Russian counterparts to agree a programme for disbursing aid to assist in containing and reducing hazards from deteriorating nuclear material in the Murmansk region; and when he expects that programme to commence.

Peter Hain: The Secretary of State has not yet had the opportunity to meet his Russian counterpart to discuss the hazards from deteriorating nuclear material in the Murmansk region. His predecessor, my right hon. Friend the Member for Livingston (Mr. Cook), most recently discussed this issue with the Russian Prime Minister on 20 September 2000. There have also been regular and frequent contacts at official level to seek to move forward with disbursing our assistance. I hope such a programme will commence in the near future, once the Russian Government agree to provide adequate legal framework arrangements.

Nuclear Material (Russia)

David Chidgey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of (a) the extent of the hazards of deteriorating nuclear material (i) in the Kola Peninsula and (ii) at other military establishments in Russia; and (b) the costs of eliminating these hazards.

Peter Hain: In 2000 Her Majesty's Government carried out a comprehensive review of the nuclear safety and security problems in the countries of the former Soviet Union. This included an assessment of the hazards of nuclear material on the Kola Peninsula and at other military establishments in Russia. As a result of the review the UK pledged £84 million over three years to tackle a range of nuclear problems in the former Soviet Union. A top priority will be work to decommission radioactive waste from decommissioned Russian nuclear submarines: it is estimated that there are over 100 such vessels in and around the Kola Peninsula, and over 70 in the rest of the Russian Federation.

Nuclear Material (Russia)

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Government policy on pledging support to the Russian Federation Military Plutonium Disposition Programme; if he will place in the Library copies of (a) all UK submissions and (b) other submissions relevant to UK policy to the G8 meeting this month in Genoa, in respect of the deliberation of the Russian Plutonium Programme.

Ben Bradshaw: The UK pledged £70 million over a 10-year period at the Okinawa Summit in July 2000 to support the Russian Federation Military Plutonium Disposition Programme. We have continued to play a full role in the programme through our membership of the G8 Plutonium Disposition Planning Group (PDPG), which has been dedicated to taking this work forward. The Group has met regularly since its formation in late 2000 and has produced a report for consideration at the Genoa Summit. An unclassified copy was placed in the House of Commons Library on 9 July 2001. We are aware of no other submissions to the G8 Summit in Genoa.

Amnesty International

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action his Department is taking to assist Amnesty International in securing the release of (a) U Ohn Maung, (b) U Sein Hla Oo, (c) Dr. Than Nyein and (d) U Tun Kywe in Burma.

Ben Bradshaw: We take every opportunity bilaterally, through the EU and also the United Nations to press the Burmese regime to release all political prisoners.
	As my hon. Friend will be aware, all four people mentioned are MPs-elect for the National League for Democracy, which overwhelmingly won the general election in Burma in 1990. The latest information we have from the National League for Democracy is that only three MPs-elect remain in prison and that all those listed have been released.
	I very much welcome the recent release of over 30 MPs-elect from detention in Burma and hope this represents the start of an ongoing process leading to the early release of all political prisoners and national reconciliation.

Family Visit Visas

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will provide a breakdown, by entry clearance post, of the number of family visit visa applications (a) received, (b) determined, (c) allowed and (d) refused in (i) April and (ii) May.

Ben Bradshaw: Our latest information from the 108 entry clearance posts which submit monthly statistical data is as follows:
	
		Family visit visa applications 2001
		
			  Applications received Applications determined Applications allowed Applications refused  
			  April May April May April May April May 
		
		
			 1. Abidjan 26 29 24 31 23 30 1 1 
			 2. Abu Dhabi 64 102 53 89 45 79 8 10 
			 3. Abuja 0 27 0 15 0 9 0 6 
			 4. Accra 1,969 2,410 1,294 2,373 302 1,346 992 1,027 
			 5. Addis Ababa 15 10 15 11 7 4 8 7 
			 6. Almaty 25 13 25 13 24 10 1 3 
			 7. Amman 11 10 12 10 11 9 1 1 
			 8. Amsterdam 48 57 48 57 43 56 5 1 
			 9. Ankara 27 32 27 32 25 32 2 0 
			 10. Bahrain 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 11. Baku 13 16 13 13 13 13 0 0 
			 12. Bangkok 69 197 125 145 88 111 37 34 
			 13. Banjul 80 104 60 67 51 59 9 8 
			 14. Beirut 128 183 126 181 126 181 0 0 
			 15. Belgrade 146 85 146 96 140 83 6 13 
			 16. Bogota 103 158 103 158 95 146 8 12 
			 17. Bombay 2,429 2,706 2,430 2,696 1,999 2,159 431 537 
			 18. Bratislava 153 198 146 176 146 175 0 1 
			 19. Brussels 33 18 14 7 14 6 0 1 
			 20. Bucharest 111 182 112 179 106 174 6 5 
			 21. Budapest 8 6 8 6 8 4 0 2 
			 22. Cairo 193 322 186 316 179 298 7 18 
			 23. Calcutta 338 450 337 449 335 445 2 4 
			 24. Canberra 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 25. Casablanca 104 106 104 105 99 98 5 7 
			 26. Chicago 200 368 182 356 180 355 2 1 
			 27. Colombo 110 130 100 130 35 93 65 37 
			 28. Copenhagen 45 53 43 49 43 49 0 0 
			 29. Dakar (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 
			 30. Damascus 50 108 49 107 45 102 4 5 
			 31. Dar Es Salaam 90 123 89 130 79 116 10 14 
			 32. Dhaka 521 569 421 509 246 297 175 212 
			 33. Doha 22 45 22 45 19 43 3 2 
			 34. Dubai 96 178 60 143 54 118 6 25 
			 35. Dublin 16 37 20 32 18 30 2 2 
			 36. Dusseldorf 331 316 302 261 301 258 1 3 
			 37. Ekaterinburg 20 0 20 0 19 0 1 0 
			 38. Geneva 65 85 62 80 61 74 1 6 
			 39. Georgetown 47 74 62 74 61 67 1 7 
			 40. Guangzhou 230 234 185 167 161 152 24 15 
			 41. Hanoi 4 15 6 7 1 4 5 3 
			 42. Harare (30)— (30)— 0 0 (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 
			 43. Havana 2 1 2 1 2 1 0 0 
			 44. Hong Kong 44 95 34 72 34 72 0 0 
			 45. Islamabad 2,994 (30)— 2,985 0 2,070 (30)— 915 (30)— 
			 46. Istanbul 339 460 278 368 247 325 31 43 
			 47. Jakarta 63 119 66 127 59 122 7 5 
			 48. Jeddah 0 0 0 10 0 0 0 10 
			 49. Jerusalem 28 72 28 68 28 68 0 0 
			 50. Kampala 186 116 175 108 148 93 27 15 
			 51. Karachi 569 1,251 569 1,251 487 1,021 82 230 
			 52. Kathmandu 0 152 0 117 0 98 0 19 
			 53. Khartoum 100 115 51 78 37 58 14 20 
			 54. Kiev 128 147 108 150 97 132 11 18 
			 55. Kingston 118 140 113 129 103 114 10 15 
			 56. Kuala Lumpur 17 22 18 22 15 17 3 5 
			 57. Kuwait 42 67 42 67 35 59 7 8 
			 58. Lagos 2,436 (30)— 1,710 0 1,614 (30)— 96 (30)— 
			 59. Lima 21 52 21 52 21 50 0 2 
			 60. Los Angeles 321 423 321 423 321 422 0 1 
			 61. Luanda (30)— (30)— 0 0 (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 
			 62. Lusaka 66 (30)— 66 0 62 (30)— 4 (30)— 
			 63. Madras 656 577 671 595 652 579 19 16 
			 64. Madrid 29 38 29 38 29 37 0 1 
			 65. Manila 145 223 145 223 93 155 52 68 
			 66. Mexico City 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 67. Minsk 31 39 30 31 30 30 0 1 
			 68. Moscow 357 438 342 400 334 386 8 14 
			 69. Muscat 100 96 100 92 95 89 5 3 
			 70. Nairobi 238 342 238 342 211 303 27 39 
			 71. New Delhi 2,017 2,991 2,017 2,991 1,371 2,160 648 831 
			 72. New York 675 985 660 969 660 968 0 1 
			 73. Nicosia 156 252 153 6 148 0 5 6 
			 74. Oslo 73 99 72 92 71 92 1 0 
			 75. Ottawa 336 522 248 431 247 431 1 0 
			 76. Paris 339 348 328 353 326 352 2 1 
			 77. Peking 202 355 196 345 182 337 14 8 
			 78. Port Louis 373 605 373 601 356 585 17 16 
			 79. Port of Spain 3 10 2 12 2 12 0 0 
			 80. Prague 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 81. Pretoria 12 19 12 11 10 9 2 2 
			 82. Quito 18 30 18 28 18 28 0 0 
			 83. Riga 6 (30)— 6 0 6 (30)— 0 (30)— 
			 84. Riyadh 8 11 15 31 7 19 8 12 
			 85. Rome 99 80 86 76 82 75 4 1 
			 86. Sana'a 6 (30)— 6 0 4 (30)— 2 (30)— 
			 87. Santo Domingo 3 4 3 4 2 3 1 1 
			 88. Sarajevo 81 86 81 86 77 82 4 4 
			 89. Shanghai 144 174 144 180 125 159 19 21 
			 90. Singapore 36 55 32 57 31 57 1 0 
			 91. Skopje 1 1 1 2 0 1 1 1 
			 92. Sofia 144 151 143 148 143 147 0 1 
			 93. St. Petersburg 78 114 78 114 75 109 3 5 
			 94. Stockholm 106 146 129 155 126 154 3 1 
			 95. Taipei 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 96. Tashkent 24 29 24 29 23 29 1 0 
			 97. Tbilisi 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 98. Tehran 0 1,099 1,554 1,063 1,515 1,018 39 45 
			 99. Tirana (30)— (30)— 0 0 (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 
			 100. Tokyo 5 11 5 10 5 8 0 2 
			 101. Tripoli 0 0 2 0 0 0 2 0 
			 102. Tunis 130 155 130 155 105 116 25 39 
			 103. Vienna 12 9 12 9 12 9 (30)— 0 
			 104. Warsaw 1 5 0 3 0 1 0 2 
			 105. Washington 0 504 0 497 0 496 0 1 
			 106. Wellington 0 5 0 5 0 5 0 0 
			 107. Yaounde (30)— (30)— 0 0 (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 
			 108. Zagreb 137 131 132 131 127 128 5 3 
			  
			 Total 22,195 23,727 21,835 22,673 17,882 19,106 3,953 3,567 
		
	
	(30) Information not yet received from Posts

Family Visit Visas

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will provide a breakdown, by entry clearance post, of the number of family visit visa refusals in relation to which (a) an appeal was received, (b) the refusal was overturned by an entry clearance manager after receipt of an appeal and (c) an appeal was despatched in (i) April and (ii) May.

Ben Bradshaw: Our latest information from the 108 entry clearance posts which submit monthly statistical data is as follows.
	
		Family visit visa refusals 2001
		
			  Appeals received Refusals overturned by ECM Appeals despatched  
			  April May April May April May 
		
		
			 1. Abidjan 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 2. Abu Dhabi 1 3 0 0 1 2 
			 3. Abuja 0 9 0 0 0 4 
			 4. Accra 22 36 2 0 24 17 
			 5. Addis Ababa 2 1 0 0 0 2 
			 6. Almaty 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 7. Amman 1 0 1 0 0 0 
			 8. Amsterdam 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 9. Ankara 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 10. Bahrain 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 11. Baku 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 12. Bangkok 3 11 1 0 2 9 
			 13. Banjul 0 1 0 0 0 1 
			 14. Beirut 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 15. Belgrade 0 2 0 0 0 0 
			 16. Bogota 1 0 0 0 1 0 
			 17. Bombay 32 42 2 4 21 32 
			 18. Bratislava 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 19. Brussels 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 20. Bucharest 0 3 0 1 0 2 
			 21. Budapest 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 22. Cairo 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 23. Calcutta 0 1 0 0 0 0 
			 24. Canberra 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 25. Casablanca 0 0 0 0 1 0 
			 26. Chicago 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 27. Colombo 8 10 1 2 7 8 
			 28. Copenhagen 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 29. Dakar (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— 
			 30. Damascus 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 31. Dar Es Salaam 3 4 0 0 1 4 
			 32. Dhaka 20 22 0 2 20 18 
			 33. Doha 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 34. Dubai 5 0 0 3 4 6 
			 35. Dublin 1 0 0 0 0 0 
			 36. Dusseldorf 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 37. Ekaterinburg 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 38. Geneva 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 39. Georgetown 1 2 1 1 1 0 
			 40. Guangzhou 2 2 2 0 2 0 
			 41. Hanoi 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 42. Harare (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— 
			 43. Havana 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 44. Hong Kong 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 45. Islamabad 166 (31)— 6 (31)— 50 (31)— 
			 46. Istanbul 3 5 1 0 4 5 
			 47. Jakarta 3 0 0 0 3 0 
			 48. Jeddah 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 49. Jerusalem 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 50. Kampala 1 2 1 0 1 0 
			 51. Karachi 17 12 0 3 5 18 
			 52. Kathmandu 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 53. Khartoum 0 8 2 0 2 6 
			 54. Kiev 0 1 0 0 0 0 
			 55. Kingston 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 56. Kuala Lumpur 1 0 0 0 1 0 
			 57. Kuwait 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 58. Lagos 47 (31)— 7 (31)— 45 (31)— 
			 59. Lima 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 60. Los Angeles 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 61. Luanda 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 62. Lusaka 0 1 0 0 0 1 
			 63. Madras 3 1 0 0 5 2 
			 64. Madrid 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 65. Manila 28 15 0 0 20 4 
			 66. Mexico City 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 67. Minsk 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 68. Moscow 3 0 0 0 2 1 
			 69. Muscat 1 0 0 0 1 0 
			 70. Nairobi 2 0 0 0 2 0 
			 71. New Delhi 45 51 4 8 31 24 
			 72. New York 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 73. Nicosia 0 1 0 0 0 1 
			 74. Oslo 1 0 0 0 0 0 
			 75. Ottawa 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 76. Paris 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 77. Peking 1 0 0 0 1 0 
			 78. Port Louis 1 4 1 0 0 4 
			 79. Port of Spain 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 80. Prague 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 81. Pretoria 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 82. Quito 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 83. Riga 0 (31)— 0 (31)— 0 (31)— 
			 84. Riyadh 3 1 0 0 0 0 
			 85. Rome 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 86. Sana'a 5 (31)— 1 (31)— 6 (31)— 
			 87. Santo Domingo 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 88. Sarajevo 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 89. Shanghai 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 90. Singapore 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 91. Skopje 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 92. Sofia 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 93. St. Petersburg 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 94. Stockholm 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 95. Taipei 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 96. Tashkent 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 97. Tbilisi 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 98. Tehran 2 4 0 0 1 2 
			 99. Tirana (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— 
			 100. Tokyo 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 101. Tripoli 0 5 0 0 0 3 
			 102. Tunis 1 12 0 0 1 12 
			 103. Vienna 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 104. Warsaw 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 105. Washington 0 1 0 0 0 1 
			 106. Wellington 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 107. Yaounde (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— 
			 108. Zagreb 0 1 0 0 0 1 
			  
			 Total 436 274 33 24 266 190 
		
	
	(31) Information not yet received from Posts

The Balkans

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the situation in the Balkans.

Denis MacShane: The problems in Macedonia threaten the stability of the Balkans region. Following international facilitation, there appear to be early signs of progress: a ceasefire was agreed last week, and Macedonian party leaders are now in talks to agree a final political settlement. Regionally, we are working with partners and key international organisations to help foster peace and stability, focusing on regional co-operation, inter-ethnic reconciliation and economic reform through the Stability Pact and the EU's Stabilisation and Association Process.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Horticultural Research Site (Efford)

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the future of the horticultural research site at Efford near Lymington.

Elliot Morley: The Chief Executive of Horticulture Research International informs me that its Efford site is very much part of the future of the organisation as set out in its restructuring plan approved by my predecessor last year. The new site manager is working closely with the horticulture industry to ensure that Efford carries out the research and knowledge transfer activities which can best support growers. HRI is also exploring the scope for collaborative work and joint ventures with Southampton University and Chilworth Science Park.

Horticultural Research Site (Efford)

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what genetically- modified crops are being grown at the horticultural research establishment at Efford near Lymington.

Michael Meacher: HRI has informed us that a small number of genetically modified banana plants are being grown under Health and Safety Executive approved and licensed containment conditions under glass at HRI's Efford site. These plants contribute to a doctoral research project undertaken in collaboration with a UK University which is investigating the fundamental processes in the ripening of fruits.

Whaling

Helen Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on progress with international agreements on whaling.

Elliot Morley: The next meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) is to take place from 23–27 July in London. We shall take this opportunity to reaffirm our opposition to all forms of whaling other than some subsistence whaling by indigenous people. We shall also resist any attempts by those in support of a resumption of commercial whaling to lift the current moratorium. There will be further discussion on the Revised Management Scheme, welfare aspects of whaling killing, Whale Sanctuaries in the South Pacific and South Atlantic and on whale stocks.
	The Government will be making a statement shortly on the line we propose to take at the IWC meeting.

Artificial Reef Project

Colin Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will announce a decision on the artificial reef project off Whitsand Bay.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 9 July 2001
	The application to place a vessel on the seabed in Whitsand Bay is currently under consideration and our decision on whether to issue a licence under the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985 will be announced shortly.

Common Agricultural Policy

Dave Watts: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many CAP grants were paid directly into foreign banks in each year from 1997 to date; and how much money was paid in each year.

Elliot Morley: No CAP grants were paid directly into foreign bank accounts in any of the years from 1997 to date.

Beef (Special Premium Claims)

Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the European Commission's proposals to (a) reduce the UK national ceiling for beef special premium claims and (b) reduce the stocking density limits.

Elliot Morley: The overall effect of the proposal to reduce the EU national BSP ceilings is to reduce the potential for expansion of production. Based on recent usage figures it does not imply an immediate significant reduction in production. As the UK has historically used the majority of its available ceiling we have not had to bear the more severe cuts imposed on some other member states, and suffer only a 4 per cent. cut in ceiling. Forecasts have predicted that production in 2002–03 will be almost the same level as that of 1997. This would mean that the UK would have a total number of claims below its revised ceiling and producers would not be subjected to clawback on their beef special premium claims.
	The overall effect of lowering of the stocking density limits on beef special premium and suckler cow premium claims, from 2.0 livestock units per hectare (LU/ha) to 1.9 LU/ha in 2002, is difficult to assess since the reduced limits will have different effects at the level of individual producers. In some cases it is possible that farmers might have to reduce claims in order to meet the stocking density limits. However, all assessments will be clouded by the restocking position of farmers who have been affected by foot and mouth disease controls.

Over-30-months Scheme

John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will reintroduce in areas which have been declared provisionally free of foot and mouth disease the over-30- months slaughter scheme for cattle; and if she will make a statement.

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment the Government have made of the need to reopen the over- 30-months scheme.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 5 July 2001
	The over-30-months scheme has been suspended, other than in Northern Ireland and for casualty animals in Great Britain, due to the outbreak of foot and mouth disease. As a consequence beef and dairy producers have had to retain eligible cattle longer than they would wish, incurring feeding and other costs and without income from scheme payments. The scheme will be reopened as soon as the processing capacity, which has been diverted to deal with the foot and mouth outbreak, can be made available to the scheme.

Energy Efficiency

David Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if energy suppliers can meet energy efficiency targets set under the Energy Efficiency Commitment scheme by expansion of the gas network.

Michael Meacher: Under the proposed Energy Efficiency Commitment for 2002–05, gas and electricity suppliers will be required to meet energy efficiency targets. It is proposed that companies should be free to develop the most cost-effective schemes. The Regulator would be responsible for determining whether any proposed action qualifies towards a supplier's energy efficiency target and, if so, what improvement in energy efficiency should be attributed to it. I propose to issue a consultation paper on the commitment in the summer.

Recycling

Helen Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to set higher targets for recycling.

Michael Meacher: The Government set out our programme for delivering sustainable waste management in "Waste Strategy 2000", published in May last year, and have set out statutory targets under best value for local authorities to double the amount of household waste recycled within three years and almost treble it within five years. We will keep the targets for household waste recycling and composting under review, and increase them as appropriate once these initial targets have been reached.

Young Farmers

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what efforts are being made to encourage young farmers in the agricultural industry, with particular reference to family and livestock farming.

Elliot Morley: One of the key tasks for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is to work with all concerned to develop an economically viable, sustainable, diverse and dynamic farming industry. The enthusiasm and fresh ideas young farmers bring to the industry will be vital in helping to secure this aim, as are the skills of the many family-run livestock farms which are currently struggling to cope with the appalling difficulties caused by the foot and mouth disease outbreak.
	The Government are supporting the industry in many ways. These include the measures in the Agriculture Strategy launched last year and the food and mouth recovery programme announced on 8 May by my right hon. Friend the Minister for Work, the then Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. Together these measures will help create the economic conditions in which a restructured industry can flourish once foot and mouth disease has been eradicated. This will be of benefit to all farmers including young farmers and family-run farms.

Correspondence

Alan Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects to reply to the letter to her predecessor from the right hon. Member for Berkwick-upon-Tweed dated 8 February about genetically indexed flocks, to which a holding reply was sent on 12 February.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 2 July 2001
	I replied to the letter from the right hon. Member for Berwick- upon-Tweed on 4 July 2001.

Correspondence

Douglas Hogg: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will reply to the letters regarding Mr. Stephen Dorey of Norton Disney of 25 May and 12 and 18 June.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 4 July 2001
	My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State replied to the letters from the right hon. and learned Member for Sleaford and North Hykeham (Mr. Hogg) on 2 July 2001.

Intervention Board

Colin Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many administrative staff were employed by the Intervention Board in each of the last 10 years.

Elliot Morley: The information requested is set out in the table.
	
		Administrative staff employed by the Intervention Board between March 1992 and March 2001
		
			  Permanent staff Casual staff Total 
		
		
			 March 1992 972 41 1,013 
			 March 1993 1,037 66 1,103 
			 March 1994 984 63 1,047 
			 March 1995 933 116 1,049 
			 March 1996 902 76 978 
			 March 1997 1,014 184 1,198 
			 March 1998 1,143 302 1,445 
			 March 1999 1,241 230 1,471 
			 March 2000 1,280 122 1,402 
			 March 2001 (32)1,242 (32)99 (32)1,341 
		
	
	(32) March 2001 figures are not yet published
	Note:
	Figures are based on the staff in post as at 31 March and are published in the Agency's Annual Report and Accounts

Light Lambs

Colin Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the need for (a) a light lamb disposal scheme and (b) a light lamb storage scheme.

Elliot Morley: We estimate that there will be approximately 1.5 million light lambs (live lambs up to around 30 kgs in weight) born this year which, because of the foot and mouth disease-related export ban, cannot be exported to their traditional market outlets in Southern Europe. We are currently examining all possible options for dealing with the problems expected to arise as a result of the closure of export markets.

Foot and Mouth

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations have been made by the farming community as to the use of foreign vets in efforts to eradicate the foot and mouth crisis.

Elliot Morley: No representations have been made by the farming community as to the use of foreign vets in efforts to eradicate the foot and mouth crisis.

Foot and Mouth

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment the Government have made of the possibility of foot and mouth disease being spread as a result of burning as a disposal method.

Elliot Morley: Veterinary advice is that once rigor mortis set in (approximately 24 hours after slaughter) the consequent fall in PH rapidly destroys foot and mouth virus present in muscle tissue. Carcases are soaked in approved disinfectant to destroy any virus on external surfaces and the conditions of cremation are such that any virus surviving in other internal organs (such as lymph nodes or bone marrow) is likely to be destroyed before it could be dispersed from the pyre. Any risk of spread of the virus from a pyre is therefore considered to be minimal.
	A collaborative study was carried out with input from the Institute for Animal Health (World Reference Laboratory for foot and mouth disease), the Met Office and DEFRA. The report was published in The Veterinary Record, 12 May 2001, pages 585–86 and concluded that disease outbreaks due to virus dispersion from pyres is unlikely to occur in general and that the data analysed showed no evidence that infection due to this cause has occurred.
	Contributors to the publication "Spread of foot-and- mouth disease from the burning of animal carcases on open pyres" were John Gloster, Helen Hewson, David Mackay, Tony Garland, Alex Donaldson, Ian Mason, Richard Brown.

Foot and Mouth

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what action will be taken against the officer in Monmouthshire who attempted to shoot sheep in a field at long range.

Elliot Morley: The marksman concerned was contracted to Monmouthshire county council, who have sent a report to the National Assembly of Wales. The Assembly is considering whether further action may be required.

Foot and Mouth

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment the Government have made of the need to protect hill flocks; and what plans there are to do so.

Elliot Morley: A number of measures have been taken to protect hill flocks while not jeopardising the primary objective of eradicating foot and mouth disease. Following consultation in April, the Government introduced a scheme on 3 May, providing for owners of rare breeds of sheep and goats and hefted sheep to apply for exemptions from the contiguous and 3 km culls. On 11 May exceptional arrangements were introduced for the movement of sheep, cattle and goats to common grazings in order to meet the problems affecting hill flocks. On 5 July special arrangements for sheep movement from common land to deal with shearing and other husbandry practices necessary for the welfare of sheep were also announced. We have also contributed to the establishment of the Heritage gene bank to ensure the retention of genes of sheep breeds indigenous to the UK.

Foot and Mouth

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many strains of the foot and mouth virus exist; whether vaccines offer protection against each; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 4 July 2001
	There are seven serotypes of foot and mouth disease, namely: types O, A, C, South Africa type 1, South Africa type 2, South Africa type 3, and type Asia 1. Vaccination against one of the seven serotypes protects against that serotype but not necessarily against the other six serotypes.
	Within the seven serotypes there are strains, some of which are sufficiently different from each other to provide little or no cross-protection. New strains of virus can and do arise in the field.
	Vaccines can be manufactured to contain several serotypes and strains of virus appropriate to a given epidemiological situation.

Foot and Mouth

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects to remove all farms from D notice status within Gloucestershire.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 3 July 2001
	A substantial amount of surveillance work has already been done in Gloucestershire, but more remains to be carried out. We hope to be able to lift the remaining Protection Zones in Gloucestershire in the next two to three weeks, provided that there are no further outbreaks.

Foot and Mouth

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many animals have been slaughtered as a result of foot and mouth disease.

Elliot Morley: As at 2 July, 3,458,000 animals had been compulsorily slaughtered as a result of foot and mouth disease in Great Britain.
	This information can be found on the DEFRA foot and mouth disease website (www.defr.gov.uk/footandmouth/) and is updated daily.
	Source:
	DEFRA Disease Control System database—figures subject to revision as more data become available.

Foot and Mouth

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many animals have been (a) slaughtered and (b) disposed of in each day during the foot and mouth crisis.

Elliot Morley: The table shows details of the number of animals compulsorily slaughtered and disposed of on each day of the foot and mouth crisis in Great Britain. As at 2 July the cumulative total number of animals slaughtered and disposed of were 3,458,000 and 3,441,000 respectively.
	
		Thousand 
		
			 Day Slaughterings Disposals 
		
		
			 23 February 2001 1 0 
			 24 February 2001 0 0 
			 25 February 2001 1 1 
			 26 February 2001 0 1 
			 27 February 2001 2 1 
			 28 February 2001 5 0 
			 1 March 2001 6 0 
			 2 March 2001 7 2 
			 3 March 2001 6 4 
			 4 March 2001 12 3 
			 5 March 2001 4 3 
			 6 March 2001 17 8 
			 7 March 2001 12 8 
			 8 March 2001 4 17 
			 9 March 2001 14 9 
			 10 March 2001 14 9 
			 11 March 2001 13 11 
			 12 March 2001 9 5 
			 13 March 2001 14 13 
			 14 March 2001 27 22 
			 15 March 2001 19 15 
			 16 March 2001 29 26 
			 17 March 2001 11 15 
			 18 March 2001 40 23 
			 19 March 2001 21 24 
			 20 March 2001 26 27 
			 21 March 2001 38 27 
			 22 March 2001 53 30 
			 23 March 2001 40 31 
			 24 March 2001 52 51 
			 25 March 2001 42 33 
			 26 March 2001 47 37 
			 27 March 2001 47 29 
			 28 March 2001 56 46 
			 29 March 2001 55 55 
			 30 March 2001 102 75 
			 31 March 2001 86 70 
			 1 April 2001 78 57 
			 2 April 2001 77 83 
			 3 April 2001 90 75 
			 4 April 2001 86 88 
			 5 April 2001 84 110 
			 6 April 2001 98 79 
			 7 April 2001 90 85 
			 8 April 2001 72 84 
			 9 April 2001 81 82 
			 10 April 2001 88 86 
			 11 April 2001 85 76 
			 12 April 2001 74 74 
			 13 April 2001 81 70 
			 14 April 2001 101 76 
			 15 April 2001 78 109 
			 16 April 2001 66 71 
			 17 April 2001 50 63 
			 19 April 2001 71 70 
			 20 April 2001 60 103 
			 21 April 2001 78 67 
			 22 April 2001 47 87 
			 23 April 2001 41 43 
			 24 April 2001 46 67 
			 25 April 2001 23 34 
			 26 April 2001 39 41 
			 27 April 2001 36 56 
			 28 April 2001 27 36 
			 29 April 2001 19 25 
			 30 April 2001 14 41 
			 1 May 2001 17 28 
			 2 May 2001 10 17 
			 3 May 2001 21 15 
			 4 May 2001 8 22 
			 5 May 2001 24 11 
			 6 May 2001 15 16 
			 7 May 2001 11 17 
			 8 May 2001 7 10 
			 9 May 2001 10 12 
			 10 May 2001 12 13 
			 11 May 2001 7 6 
			 12 May 2001 10 8 
			 13 May 2001 4 6 
			 14 May 2001 12 9 
			 15 May 2001 11 10 
			 16 May 2001 7 13 
			 17 May 2001 6 2 
			 18 May 2001 6 5 
			 19 May 2001 14 9 
			 20 May 2001 8 15 
			 21 May 2001 10 12 
			 22 May 2001 11 10 
			 23 May 2001 10 12 
			 24 May 2001 23 15 
			 25 May 2001 16 19 
			 26 May 2001 12 11 
			 27 May 2001 14 15 
			 28 May 2001 11 8 
			 29 May 2001 9 14 
			 30 May 2001 10 12 
			 31 May 2001 5 6 
			 1 June 2001 12 11 
			 2 June 2001 5 9 
			 3 June 2001 12 5 
			 4 June 2001 18 15 
			 5 June 2001 11 19 
			 6 June 2001 5 7 
			 7 June 2001 8 7 
			 8 June 2001 6 4 
			 9 June 2001 7 7 
			 10 June 2001 5 6 
			 11 June 2001 16 7 
			 12 June 2001 6 15 
			 13 June 2001 13 13 
			 14 June 2001 7 6 
			 15 June 2001 4 1 
			 16 June 2001 18 11 
			 17 June 2001 9 11 
			 18 June 2001 7 12 
			 19 June 2001 8 6 
			 20 June 2001 12 9 
			 21 June 2001 4 7 
			 22 June 2001 3 2 
			 23 June 2001 6 7 
			 24 June 2001 9 3 
			 25 June 2001 7 15 
			 26 June 2001 2 2 
			 27 June 2001 4 2 
			 28 June 2001 2 2 
			 29 June 2001 4 3 
			 30 June 2001 4 3 
			 1 July 2001 5 3 
			 2 July 2001 1 2 
		
	
	Source:
	DEFRA Disease Control System database—figures subject to revision as more data become available

Foot and Mouth

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the duration of the current foot and mouth disease outbreak.

Elliot Morley: Because of its nature, the Chief Veterinary Officer has always said that the outbreak would have a long tail. Stock owners can assist by carrying out biosecurity measures as recommended.

Foot and Mouth

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what arrangements are being made to compensate farmers whose livestock passed the 30-month deadline but could not be sent to abattoirs because of foot and mouth; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 9 July 2001
	I appreciate that producers of clean cattle which cannot be marketed at under 30 months of age by virtue of foot and mouth disease movement restrictions will suffer a significant loss of return when such cattle are eventually sold into the over-30-month scheme (OTMS). We are alive to this problem and are considering what action might be appropriate in the context of further measures.
	Our first priority must, however, be to isolate and eradicate the disease, so that normal patterns of marketing can be restored. Once this has been done, we will be in a better position to determine the extent to which producers have been obliged to retain cattle which would have been sold at under 30 months of age but which had subsequently to go into the OTMS, and the extent of resultant losses.

Foot and Mouth

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will order a public inquiry into the current outbreaks of foot and mouth disease.

Elliot Morley: There will be an inquiry, when the disease is finally over. We have always said we are keen to learn the lessons from this outbreak. The precise nature and scope of the inquiry will as such be a matter for the Prime Minister.

Foot and Mouth

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  how many sheep in upland areas her Department has tested for foot and mouth; how many and what percentage carried the foot and mouth antibody; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  which flocks of upland sheep and at what locations in the UK have been tested for foot and mouth disease; and how many and what percentage were found to be positive.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 2 and 4 July 2001
	The Department does not categorise sheep flocks sampled for serological testing as "upland" or "lowland". There has, however, been specific testing of hefted sheep which are all found in upland areas. To date, 1,727 adult sheep in 29 hefted flocks have been sampled.
	The distribution of these flocks by regional office is as follows:
	Carlisle: 14
	Exeter: 2
	Ayr: 11
	Leeds: 1
	Cardiff: 1.
	No animal was found to have antibodies.
	Throughout England and Wales, 492,553 sheep and goats have been blood tested (as at 28 June). We have results from 471,746 animals (at 3 July) which indicate that 0.28 per cent. were antibody-positive.

Foot and Mouth

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many documented cases have been brought to her attention involving the slaughter of animals, as part of the programme of control of foot and mouth, which were carried out in inappropriate ways.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 2 July 2001
	No such cases have been brought to my attention since my right hon. Friend became Secretary of State in this Department. However, since the start of the foot and mouth outbreak six cases have been brought to the attention of Ministers, where it was alleged that animals had not been dealt with humanely. These incidents have been investigated and appropriate action taken.

Countryside and Rights of Way Act

Andrew Bennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will set out the timetable for implementing part I of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, in order to achieve her Public Service Agreement target of opening up public access to mountain, moor, heath and down and registered common land by the end of 2005.

Alun Michael: Part I of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 requires various regulations to be made before the right of access is brought into force. The table sets out the provisional programme for consultation on proposals for regulations and for bringing the regulations into force in order to meet our Public Service Agreement target. We are firmly committed to the 2005 target although the exact timing of each of the intermediate stages in our programme may depend on responses to the various consultation papers which we shall be issuing. I shall consider the views of respondents carefully before laying regulations before Parliament.
	
		
			  Regulation  Section Consultation commended Date regulations in force 
		
		
			 Regulations regarding mapping of access land and consultation on draft maps Section 11 March 2001 October 2001 
			 
			 Regulations regarding the establishment of LAFs and the appointment of members Section 94 (Part V) July 2001 December 2001 
			 
			 Regulations regarding issue of provisional maps, appeals, and issue of conclusive maps Section 11 October 2001 April 2002 
			 
			 Regulations regarding dedication of land for access Section 16 October 2001 March 2002 
			 
			 Regulations relating to exclusion or restriction of access under Chapter II, including appeals Section 32 November 2001 May 2002 
			 
			 Regulations on removal or relaxation of restrictions on access land and to exclude access in emergencies Paragraph 7, Schedule 2; Section 31 November 2002 May 2003 
			 
			 Regulations on appeals relating to notices Section 38 February 2003 August 2003 
			 
			 Regulations regarding review of conclusive maps Section 11 February 2004 August 2004 
			 
			 References to public places in existing enactments Section 42 To review before general implementation of right of access  
		
	
	Progress in developing regulations has been delayed by the secondment of staff to undertake vital work in responding to the foot and mouth crisis. I now expect to lay regulations during the summer recess enabling the Countryside Agency to issue the first draft maps of open country and registered common land in November. I shall review the case for giving earlier access to mountain land and registered common land in the light of experience of the first mapping exercises. This would lead to the commencement of certain regulations earlier than the proposed timetable.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Pension Payments (Post Office)

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if it is Government policy to allow indefinitely those who wish to do so to collect their state pension in cash at a post office.

Malcolm Wicks: Yes.

Occupational Pensions (Disabled People)

Shaun Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on access to membership of occupational pension schems for disabled people when they start employment.

Ian McCartney: The Government want to ensure that all employees take advantage of access to good occupational pension schemes. The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 inserted a "non-discrimination rule" into the rules of all occupational pension schemes which prevents the general exclusion of disabled people from occupational pension schemes although schemes can apply different eligibility criteria for benefits if the costs of providing those benefits is substantially greater.
	Research undertaken in 1999 indicated that there was no evidence of systematic exclusion of disabled people from occupational pension schemes. There was evidence of the application of blanket restrictions on access to ill-health benefits. These restrictions were perceived to be difficult to challenge through existing channels.
	The Disability Rights Task Force made a number of recommendations on occupational pensions including access to complaints procedures. Our response to the Task Force—'Towards Inclusion', published on 5 March 2001—proposes, when legislative time allows, amending the Disability Discrimination Act to allow disabled people to complain to an employment tribunal about discrimination by trustees or managers of an occupational pension scheme.

Invalid Carers Allowance

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he intends to implement the changes to the invalid carers allowance detailed in his Department's press release dated 3 October 2000.

Maria Eagle: We have already introduced two of the four measures announced last autumn. In April we increased the carer premium paid through income-related benefits by £10 per week, and raised the invalid care allowance (ICA) earnings limit by £22 per week. The other changes announced enable claims to ICA to be extended to people aged 65 or over and to enable ICA to continue for up to eight weeks after the death of the person being cared for. We intend to introduce a regulatory reform order to provide for these changes shortly.

Disability Discrimination Act

Shaun Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to extend the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 to cover private clubs.

Maria Eagle: The Government's response to the Disability Rights Task Force, "Towards Inclusion—civil rights for disabled people", issued in March 2001, noted that the Disability Rights Commission had been asked to develop a voluntary approach instead of legislating to reduce any problems disabled people may have in joining private clubs. Replies to that report are currently being analysed.

Departmental Title Change Costs

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the cost of the recent renaming of his Department, including (a) design costs, (b) stationery costs, (c) new name plaques and (d) other costs; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Brown: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave the hon. Member for South Cambridgeshire (Mr. Lansley) on 26 June 2001, Official Report, column 772W.

Recruit

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the nationwide implementation progress of the programme Recruit.

Nick Brown: Recruit is a pilot initiative offering help to small businesses which employ people from deprived areas through New Deal.
	Pilots have been operational since April 2001 and will run until December 2001 when its impact will be evaluated.
	Recruit consolidates and simplifies the wage subsidy of the New Deal. The subsidy is currently paid weekly. Under Recruit, it will be paid in two lump sums, one on recruitment and the second to support retention after 13 weeks.
	No decisions have been taken on national implementation.

DEFENCE

Defence Equipment Exhibition

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the countries from which buyers (a) have been and (b) will be invited to the defence systems and equipment international exhibition being held from 11 to 14 September.

Lewis Moonie: The full list of countries from which Official Defence Delegations will be invited to attend the defence systems and equipment international exhibition 2001 is still being completed. I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as it has been finalised.

Defence Equipment Exhibition

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on which days the defence systems and equipment international exhibition will be open to (a) overseas customers, (b) the press, and (c) the public; who will be opening the exhibition; if hon. Members will be invited to it; and which ships from (i) the Royal Navy and (ii) overseas navies will be participating in the exhibition.

Lewis Moonie: The exhibition is an international trade event organised by a commercial company. It will be open to overseas visitors and fully accredited members of the media from 11 to 14 September but will not be open to the public.
	I understand that the exhibition organisers will be inviting a number of hon. Members. A final decision on who will be opening the exhibition has yet to be made.
	It is planned, subject to operational constraints, for Royal Navy ships to be present. The organisers have also extended invitations to a number of overseas navies to participate.

TREASURY

Child Benefit

Karen Buck: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the average increase in the income of (a) lone parent families and (b) couples with children in each income decile, resulting from an increase of (i) £10, (ii) £20 and (iii) £30 in child benefit and the family premium in income support, income-based jobseeker's allowance, housing benefit and council tax benefit for each family in which there is at least one child aged three or under.

Malcolm Wicks: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested is not available.

Child Benefit

Karen Buck: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the impact on the numbers of children in poverty in (a) lone parent families and (b) couples with children in each income decile, resulting from an increase of (i) £10, (ii) £15 and (iii) £20 in the rate of child benefit and the child allowances in income support, income-based jobseeker's allowance, housing benefit and council tax benefit for each child aged three or under.

Malcolm Wicks: I have been asked to reply.
	It is not possible to measure accurately the impact on child poverty of individual changes to the tax and benefit system. The margins of error surrounding these estimates are too large. Taken as a whole, the personal tax and benefit measures introduced over the last parliament are estimated to lift over 1.2 million children out of relative income poverty.

Child Benefit

Karen Buck: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the average increase in the income of (a) lone parent families and (b) couples with children in each income decile, resulting from an increase of (i) £10, (ii) £15 and (iii) £20 in the rate of child benefit and the child allowances in income support, income-based jobseeker's allowance, housing benefit and council tax benefit, for each child aged three or under.

Malcolm Wicks: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested is not available.

Child Benefit

Karen Buck: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the impact on the numbers of children in poverty in (a) lone parent families and (b) couples with children in each income decile, resulting from an increase of (i) £10, (ii) £20 and (iii) £30 in child benefit and the family premium in income support, income-based jobseeker's allowance, housing benefit and council tax benefit, for each family in which there is at least one child aged three or under.

Malcolm Wicks: I have been asked to reply.
	It is not possible to measure accurately the impact on child poverty of individual changes to the tax and benefit system. The margins of error surrounding these estimates are too large. Taken as a whole, the personal tax and benefit measures introduced over the last parliament are estimated to lift over 1.2 million children out of relative income poverty.

Landfill Tax Credit Scheme

Mark Todd: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from organisations in Derbyshire concerning the proposed changes to the landfill tax credit scheme; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Boateng: I have received representations from at least one organisation in Derbyshire about the proposed changes to the landfill tax credit scheme. The Government intend to consult interested parties on how the transition from the current scheme to any replacement regime can be managed to ensure that worthwhile projects continue to receive funding.

Mortality Rates

Howard Flight: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the mortality rates are at age 55 to 60 years, broken down by (a) class, (b) sex and (c) socio-economic ranking.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from John Pullinger to Mr. Howard Flight, dated 10 July 2001
	The National Statistician has asked me to reply to your recent question asking for the mortality rates at age 55 to 60 years broken down by (a) class, (b) sex and (c) socio-economic ranking. I am replying in his absence. (2797)
	I refer you to the answer given to Parliamentary Question 161050, which as indicated by the Economic Secretary to the Treasury on 11 May in Official Report, column 435, was given in private correspondence. A copy of this letter was placed in the House of Commons library. The table below repeats this information.
	(a) The table shows age-specific mortality rates for the three year period 1991–93 for men in England and Wales aged 55–59, by social class. Similar data are not available for women, because the occupation of women recorded at death is less reliable than for men. More recent figures by social class are not available, because calculation of rates depends on knowing the size of the relevant population groups, which is currently only available from the 1991 Census.
	
		Death rates by social class for the three year period 1991–93, England and Wales
		
			  Social class Deaths per 100,000 male population 
		
		
			 I (Professional) 2,057 
			 II (Managerial and Technical) 2,148 
			 IIIN (Skilled Non-Manual) 2,975 
			 IIIM (Skilled Manual) 3,521 
			 IV (Partly Skilled) 3,491 
			 V (Unskilled) 5,534 
			 All classes 2,966 
		
	
	Source:
	Drever F, Whitehead M (eds). Health Inequalities. Decennial Supplement 15. London: The Stationery Office 1997
	The annual age specific mortality rate for all classes in 1999 for males aged 55–59 was 828 and for females, 407.
	(b) Social class based on occupation is the only socio-economic classification routinely used for the analysis of mortality.

Mortality Rates

Howard Flight: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average life expectancy is for those aged 60 years, broken down by (a) class, (b) sex and (c) socio- economic classification.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from John Pullinger to Mr. Howard Flight, dated 10 July 2001
	The National Statistician has asked me to reply to your recent question asking for the average life expectancy of those aged 60 by (a) class, (b) sex and (c) socio-economic classification. (2798)
	These figures are not available by social class for those aged 60. The table below shows the life expectancy at age 65 for men and women in England and Wales based on data from the ONS Longitudinal Study (LS) for the five years 1992–96. The ONS Longitudinal Study is a one per cent sample of the population of England and Wales.
	
		Life expectancy by social class in the ONS Longitudinal Study, 1992–96, England and Wales
		
			  Life expectancy at age 65 (years)  
			 Social Class Males Females 
		
		
			 I (Professional) 16.8 20.8 
			 II (Managerial and Technical) 15.5 19.5 
			 IIIN (Skilled Non-Manual 15.1 18.9 
			 IIIM (Skilled Manual) 14.2 17.9 
			 IV (Partly Skilled) 13.8 17.1 
			 V (Unskilled) 12.6 16.4 
			 All LS sample 14.6 18.0 
		
	
	Source:
	Hattersley L. Trends in life expectancy by social class—an update. Health Statistics Quarterly No. 2. London: The Stationery Office 1999.
	Figures on life expectancy by gender for the years 1997–99 have been produced by the Government Actuary's Department. Life expectancy in England and Wales for men aged 60 was 19.1 years and for women aged 60 it was 22.8 years.
	Social class based on occupation is the only socio-economic classification currently used for the analysis of life expectancy.

Treasury Costs

Barbara Follett: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on Departments' final running costs outturn against their final running costs limit for 1999–2000.

Andrew Smith: The departmental final running costs limit under gross control area for 1999–2000 was set at £14,011,463,000 and Departments reported £13,614,958,000 as their final RC outturn, an underspend of £396,505,000 (2.8 per cent.). More information is given in the table.
	
		£000 
		
			 Gross control area—Class/Departments Final RC limit Final outturn Final R/C under/over 
		
		
			 Class I
			 Department for Education and Employment 1,050,454 1,027,011 23,443 
			 Financed by the windfall tax 163,896 125,269 38,627 
			 Office of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools in England 34,226 33,497 729 
			 
			 Class II
			 Department of Health 280,333 275,600 4,733 
			 
			 Class III
			 Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions 671,812 659,647 12,165 
			 Health and Safety Executive 170,898 167,379 3,519 
			 Office of Passenger Rail Franchising 12,577 10,823 1,754 
			 Office of Water Services 11,591 10,860 731 
			 Office of the Rail Regulators 12,241 11,045 1,196 
			 
			 Class IV
			 Home Office 2,136,812 2,044,836 91,976 
			 Financed by the windfall tax 163 137 26 
			 Charity Commission 19,979 19,531 448 
			 
			 Class V
			 Lord Chancellor's Departments 525,370 503,694 21,676 
			 Northern Ireland Court Service 30,639 29,595 1,044 
			 Public Record Office 28,750 26,426 2,324 
			 Crown Prosecution Service 228,121 227,004 1,117 
			 Serious Fraud Office 11,224 11,630 594 
			 Class VII
			 Foreign and Commonwealth Office 498,354 475,221 23,133 
			 
			 Class VIII
			 Department for International Development 65,840 65,831 9 
			 
			 Class IX
			 Department of Trade and Industry 388,600 380,917 7,683 
			 Office of Electricity Regulation 30,000 30,191 191 
			 Office of Gas Supply 13,830 13,414 416 
			 Office of Telecommunications 12,296 11,607 689 
			 Office of Fair Trading 23,784 23,156 628 
			 
			 Class X
			 Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 367,300 356,220 11,080 
			 Intervention Board-Executive Agency 68,883 67,076 1,807 
			 
			 Class XI
			 Department for Culture, Media and Sports 33,874 32,426 1,448 
			 
			 Class XII
			 Department of Social Security 3,042,502 3,002,994 39,508 
			 Financed by the Windfall Tax 11,959 10,413 1,546 
			 
			 Class XIII
			 Scotland Office 4,215 3,519 696 
			 
			 Class XIV
			 Office of Secretary of State for Wales 2,000 1,139 861 
			 
			 Class XV
			 Northern Ireland Office 201,306 172,674 28,632 
			 
			 Class XVI
			 HM Treasury 68,713 65,354 3,359 
			 Office for National Statistics 106,645 91,058 15,587 
			 HM Customs and Excise 801,116 787,500 13,616 
			 Registry of Friendly Societies 2,400 1,928 472 
			 Inland Revenue 2,174,503 2,165,419 9,084 
			 National Savings Department 174,536 166,463 8,073 
			 National Investment and Loans Office 1,562 1,435 127 
			 
			 Class XVII
			 Cabinet Office 114,982 104,586 10,276 
			 Security and Intelligence Services 410,982 399,203 11,779 
			 Privy Council Office 2,315 2,313 2 
			 
			 Total gross running costs limit 14,011,463 13,614,958 396,505

Offshore Financial Centres

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on offshore financial centres and the steps he has taken in respect of their regulation and taxation.

Dawn Primarolo: The Government's policy is to encourage all offshore centres to meet the highest standards of regulation, supervision and to comply with international initiatives to eliminate unfair tax practices. To this end the Government have been working with international organisations such as the Financial Stability Forum, the Financial Action Task Force, the OECD, and also with EU partners.

Public Service Agreements

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on his Department's assessment of the extent to which other Government Departments are performing in relation to the targets set out in their public service agreements.

Andrew Smith: Departments published performance against their 1998 public service agreement (PSA) targets in their departmental annual reports, so that people can judge for themselves how well they are doing. It is too early to make an assessment against Departments' 2000 PSAs.

Widow's Bereavement Allowance

David Willetts: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much it would cost to allow widowers whose spouses have died in the past six years to claim widow's bereavement allowance.

Dawn Primarolo: The Inland Revenue does not generally hold information on whether men are widowed and therefore any costing is very approximate. It is estimated that the cost of extending widow's bereavement allowance to men retrospectively whose wives died between 1995–96 and 1999–2000 could be about £150 million.

Currency

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost to the (a) retail business sector and (b) overall business sector of accepting both sterling and euro as a means of exchange.

Ruth Kelly: No estimate of these costs has been made, and it would not be a simple task to carry out such an assessment. It is a commercial decision for each UK business to determine whether or not it wishes to accept the euro or, indeed, any foreign currency.

LORD CHANCELLOR

Family Visitor Appeals

Simon Hughes: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many family visitor appeals the Immigration Appellate Authority plans to deal with (a) at an oral hearing and (b) on the papers only in the financial years (i) 2001–02 and (ii) 2002–03.

Rosie Winterton: The Immigration Appellate Authority expects to deal with approximately 8,860 family visit visa appeals during 2001–02 and 10,000 such cases in 2002–03.
	Of these numbers, 60 per cent. of cases are expected to be for oral hearing and 40 per cent. for determination on the papers alone.

Family Visitor Appeals

Simon Hughes: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many (a) oral and (b) paper-only family visitor appeals have been received by the Immigration Appellate Authority since 2 October 2000 in which (i) the Immigration Advisory Service and (ii) a Citizens Advice Bureau has been identified as representing the applicant.

Rosie Winterton: The Immigration Appellate Authority has identified 145 cases received between 2 October 2000 and 30 June 2001 in which the Immigration Advisory Service represented the appellant at the adjudicator tier. Of this number, 124 were for an oral hearing and 21 for paper alone.
	A Citizens Advice Bureau has been identified as representing the appellant in one oral hearing over the same period.

Family Visitor Appeals

Simon Hughes: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many (a) oral and (b) paper-only family visitor appeals have been received by the Immigration Appellate Authority since 2 October 2000 in which (i) a solicitor or barrister and (ii) nobody has been identified as representing the applicant.

Rosie Winterton: All 1,807 family visitor cases received by the Immigration Appellate Authority record that the appellant has been represented. Of this number, 820 of cases were for oral hearing and 987 for determination on the papers alone. It is not possible to provide a breakdown between solicitor or barrister representation without incurring disproportionate cost.

Family Visitor Appeals

Simon Hughes: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is the average time taken by the Immigration Appellate Authority to process, from receipt to determination (a) oral family visitor appeals, (b) paper-only family visitor appeals, (c) asylum appeals and (d) other immigration appeals.

Rosie Winterton: The current average times, for this business year, by the Immigration Appellate Authority to process cases from receipt to determination, are:
	(a) 6.63 weeks for oral family visitor appeals
	(b) 3.66 weeks for paper only family visitor appeals
	(c) 21.79 weeks for asylum appeals
	(d) 19.6 weeks for other immigration appeals.

Asylum Appeals

Simon Hughes: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many (a) full-time and (b) part-time adjudicators are available to deal with asylum appeals.

Rosie Winterton: There are currently 78 full-time and 323 part-time adjudicators available to hear asylum appeals.

Judicial Appointments

James Purnell: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when the Lord Chancellor will appoint a judicial appointments commissioner to oversee judicial appointments in Northern Ireland.

Rosie Winterton: Pending a decision on the devolution of justice matters, which are expected matters under the Northern Ireland Act 1998, and which would require primary legislation, my noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor has decided to subject the appointment of judges and silks in Northern Ireland to supervision and scrutiny by a Commissioner. The Lord Chancellor has consulted the Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland and others on the necessary adaptations to the model suggested by Sir Leonard Peach for England and Wales, and the post will be advertised in the press from tomorrow.
	The early appointment of a Commissioner to audit, oversee and monitor all aspects of the existing appointments procedures is a practical step which will advance public confidence and provide strong reassurance about the integrity of the current system.

Judicial Appointments

Martin Caton: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what further progress the Lord Chancellor has made in establishing a commission to oversee judicial appointments and Queen's Counsel appointment procedures in England and Wales.

Rosie Winterton: Professor Sir Colin Campbell was appointed as First Commissioner for Judicial Appointments by Order in Council made on 14 March 2001. He started work immediately on developing the Commission's roles of auditing the judicial appointments and Queen's Counsel appointment procedures and investigating individual complaints. Sir Colin and my noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor are very keen to progress to the next stage in the establishment of the Commission, which will be the appointment of the first few Deputy Commissioners. There is also to be a Commissioner for Judicial Appointments for Northern Ireland, who will additionally serve as a Deputy Commissioner in England and Wales. The posts will be advertised in the press from tomorrow, with a view to the appointments being made around the end of the year.